E-diasporas Atlas. Exploration and Cartography of Diasporas in the Digital Network

The symbolic imperialism of internet, which ended up covering every aspect of our life, whether public or private, meant also a redefining process in terms of social space, social time and social relationships. Moreover, it contributed as a significant platform and amplifier resort to the consolidation of the 'network society' (Castelles, 1996) and its expansion to the virtual level. Each component of the social dynamics found its corollary and, in many cases, its substitute in the 'e'-reality generated by the new technologies and, therefore, we now speak of e-democracy, e-learning, e-culture etc. In this context, e-diaspora, which constitutes theconceptual anchor of the 'E-diasporas Atlas' project reflects 'a migrant collective that organises itself and is active first and foremost on the Web'(1). Principles of mobility and connectivityare sped up by the internet nature itself, as it provides both the platform, as well as the channel for time and space contraction, making social relations surpass the pressure and constrainsof physical distance. As a heterogeneous entity, e-diaspora covers practices of a "community whose interactions are 'enhanced' by digital exchange"(1) and is subject to a permanent process of renegotiating its boundaries.