Transnational Migration Dynamics and Social Practices
Summary
Transnational migration encompasses the sustained movement of individuals across borders alongside enduring social, economic and political ties with places of origin. Migrant communities engage in cross-border exchanges—ranging from financial remittances and knowledge flows to cultural practices and political advocacy—that reshape identities and social structures in both host and home societies. These dynamics unfold within complex social fields that span multiple geographic and institutional scales, influenced by legal regimes, digital communications and shifting labour markets. Social practices such as remittance sending, return visits, virtual caregiving and participation in diasporic networks illustrate how migrants navigate competing demands of integration and homeland engagement. Understanding these processes offers insights into policy design for sustainable development, transnational governance and the facilitation of social rights across borders.
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Transnational Migration Dynamics and Social Practices publication trend
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Technical terms
Transnationalism: The process by which migrants forge and sustain multi-locational social, economic and political linkages.
Social remittances: Ideas, practices and social capital transmitted through migrant networks between host and origin communities.
Transnational social field: A set of social relations and institutions that span two or more nation-states, shaping migrants’ everyday lives.
Multiscalar approach: Analytical framework that examines phenomena across nested scales of time, space and social position to capture their interconnections.
References
- Transnationalism: current debates and new perspectives. GeoJournal (2020).
- Theorizing interactions of migrant transnationalism and integration through a multiscalar approach. Comparative Migration Studies (2020).
- Transnational social networks, health, and care: a systematic narrative literature review. International Journal for Equity in Health (2021).
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