Dr. Martin Russell: Ireland’s Global Diaspora Thought Leader
Through its ongoing “Global Irish Nation Conversation” Irish Stew is all about connecting the worldwide Irish family, so sitting down with Dr. Martin Russell, one of the world's foremost diaspora engagement strategists, felt like a meeting of kindred missions. The proud Corkonian has spent nearly two decades turning diaspora theory into practice, working with governments and communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Balkans, all while championing Ireland's potential to be a global leader in the field.
Hosts John Lee and Martin Nutty open with a thought-starter on the "diaspora World Cup" unfolding across North America, then trace Russell's journey from a would-be mathematician at UCC to a scholar of the Irish diaspora's role in the Northern Ireland peace process. Along the way, Russell unpacks the famous 70 million Irish worldwide figure, his four pillars of diaspora engagement, and the crucial distinction between migration and diaspora.
"Other partners come and go and that's fine. That's the nature of life. But your diaspora are a community of consistency if you do it well," Russell says, making the case to governments worldwide.
The conversation turns to Ireland's new Diaspora Strategy 2026–2030, which Russell's research helped inform, the duty of care owed to the vulnerable Irish abroad, and the threat of "diaspora fade" in Irish America. His answer? "The quick answer is don't let it happen, be active."
A masterclass in belonging from a thought leader who's incredibly bullish on the diaspora's future.
MARTIN RUSSELL LINKS
EPISODE REFERENCE LINKS
- Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy, 2026-2030
- NY Times: Is this the diaspora World Cup?
- EU Global Diaspora Facility
- Institute for Integrated Transitions
BOOKS
- Fragile Neighborhoods by Seth Kaplan
- Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Jeffrey Cohen
- On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation by Kim Samuel
IRISH STEW LINKS
- Website Home Page
- Media Partner: IrishCentral
Episode Details: Season 8, Episode 21; Total Episode Count: 162
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - A Diaspora World Cup
06:28 - Origin Story
09:19 - Irish American Diaspora and the Peace Process
11:26 - Irish Diaspora Scale
13:06 - The Bitter Diaspora Experience
15:36 - Diaspora Trends
18:18 - The Albanian Diaspora Story
20:52 - The Importance of Belonging
24:37 - The Diaspora Four Pillars
27:32 - The Two Way Transactions of Diaspora Engagement
30:02 - Migration and Diaspora Intersections
31:57 - Expanding Irish Diaspora Understanding
34:58 - The New Irish Diaspora Strategy
38:51 - Diaspora Data Sensitivity
41:14 - What Does Irish Diaspora Data Progress Look Like
43:33 - Irish Diaspora Fade
45:31 - Seamus Plug
46:06 - John & Martin Recap
49:15 - Credits