The importance of the Croatian Diaspora for the development of the Republic of Croatia: Examples from Australia and the USA

Sa？etak This paper discusses attitudes, experiences and investment opportunities for Croatian emigrants and their descendants in the United States and Australia in Croatia, both at local and regional levels, aimed at prosperity and the general development of the country. The ？push’ and ？pull’ factors contributing to the emigration of Croats to these two locations will not be discussed. A few prominent examples of successful Croatian people living in these two geographically distinct locations, will be used to express their opinions and views about the existing and future collaboration between the transatlalantic Diaspora and Croatia. The entire study is based on the available literature, interviews with representatives of the Catholic Church, Croatian immigrants and their descendants, which took place in 2009 during my field work in Australia and the United States. It is also based on current research, analysis of news articles, information obtained from the General Consulates of the Republic of Croatia in Sydney and New York, and data collected through the Internet