Although it has prior research foundations in diaspora studies, the concept of migrant transnationalism has introduced a fresh and innovative approach to migration research. The realization that international migrants often live in “transnational social fields,” and maintain strong economic, political, and sociocultural ties to both sending and receiving countries, has challenged the traditional understanding of migration. This multi-dimensional concept encompasses the diverse cross-border practices of migrants through which material and immaterial resources are circulated (Glick Schiller et al. 1992, Basch et al., 1994, De Haas and Fokkema 2011, Boccagni 2012, Erlinghagen 2021 etc.).

However, there is still no consensus on how to operationalize the key term, create internationally comparable datasets, and systematically study the relationship between space and migrant transnationalism. International surveys often lack relevant background information, and the results are rarely meaningful at the subnational level. Empirical studies also remain inconsistent (Kim et al. 2021), largely due to the absence of a unified theoretical and methodological framework, as well as the fact that the entire phenomenon is deeply shaped by the historical, socieconomic and geographic contexts in which it unfolds.

This session seeks to unpack the multi-faceted relationship between space and migrant transnationalism through the discussion of various topics, including the following.

– The conceptualization and operationalization of migrant transnationalism, along with the difficulties encountered in conducting empirical studies.

– Migration “corridors” and the flow of resources (e.g. economic and social remittances, investments) in the transnational space; spatial patterns and their impacts on socioeconomic and political processes.

– How transnational engagement influences individual spatial behaviour (e.g., regular visits, circular labour migration), personal relationships (e.g., family members left behind, social networks in the host country), and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, happiness).

– The way the emotional ties to multiple places shapes migrants’ identities and influence decisions regarding return migration or long-term settlement.

We invite scholars to present theoretical and empirical analyses on migrant transnationalism, with special attention to the spatial relationships. Contributions with diverse methodological approaches are welcome. Submissions may address also policy analyses that illuminate the interrelations between the key concepts.

References:

Basch, L., Schiller, N. G., and Blanc, C. S. (1994). Nations unbound: Transnational projects, postcolonial predicaments and deterritorialized nation-states. Routledge

Boccagni, P. (2012). Revisiting the “transnational” in migration studies: A sociological understanding. Revue Européenne des Migrations Internationales (online), 28(1), 33–50.

De Haas, H., and Fokkema, T. (2011). The effects of integration and transnational ties on international return migration intentions. Demographic Research, 25, 755-782.

Erlinghagen, M. (2021). The transnational life course: An integrated and unified theoretical concept for migration research. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 44(8), 1337-1364.

Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., and Blanc-Szanton, C. (1992). Towards a transnational perspective on migration: Race, class, ethnicity, and nationalism reconsidered. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

Kim, Y.N., Urquia, M., and Villadsen, S.F. et al. (2021). A scoping review on the measurement of transnationalism in migrant health research in high-income countries. Global Health 17, 126.