The traditional focus on nation-state actors cannot explain the power of pan-Islamism, organized crime syndicates, or a plethora of other forces in the modern world. Here, Yossi Shain introduces a new, more fluid concept - the 'politics of belonging.' Selecting examples of kinship networks and diasporas from a wide range of cultures, Shain illustrates the ways in which far-reaching alliances based on blood and belief penetrate borders and shape international politics.This is a major study of the impact of kinship and diasporas upon international politics.