The term ‘expatriate’ is subject to some debate, with recent newspaper articles providing a starting point for discussion about the politics of separating expatriates from immigrants. In its technical definition, what differentiates an expatriate from an immigrant is the intention to stay— an expatriate expects to return home. However, this intention to return was only mentioned by 20% of the survey respondents in their definition of expatriate. This report explores some of the ways in which the term ‘expatriate’ has meaning today.
Key Points: • There are multiple ways in which the term expatriate can be understood— it is not just a technical term. • The term expatriate is used to distinguish between groups of migrants and comes to be associated with privilege. • In reflection of changing global work patterns, multinational organizations are moving away from the term expatriate.
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