The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes

In contemporary migration studies transnational perspective is more widespread as a result of critical questioning of methodological nationalism in the social sciences. In the literature on transnational processes within migration studies the concepts of “transnationalism”, “transnational social spa...

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Main Author: Simona Kuti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies 2012-08-01
Series:Migracijske i etničke teme
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/129433
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author Simona Kuti
author_facet Simona Kuti
author_sort Simona Kuti
collection DOAJ
description In contemporary migration studies transnational perspective is more widespread as a result of critical questioning of methodological nationalism in the social sciences. In the literature on transnational processes within migration studies the concepts of “transnationalism”, “transnational social spaces” and “transnational social fields” emerge and these should have a significant future role in conceiving social reality. Nevertheless, these terms and concepts are ambiguously defined and insufficiently developed. The paper presents the main approaches to the concept of transnational social spaces (Pries, Faist) and transnational social fields (Levitt and Glick Schiller), comparing their basic elements and differences. After a review and individual critique of selected approaches, the last part of the paper emphasizes common elements and concepts’ critique, including inadequate theoretical rootedness and a lack of clear dimensions and indicators for the operationalisation of concepts. Despite shortcomings, the segments of discussed approaches indicate relevant processes and research questions that could sensitise researchers to biases of methodological nationalism in conceptualising society as a national container.
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spelling doaj.art-99eb90b07c8e41ef8ea6fc776585bd222024-03-02T23:43:52ZengInstitute for Migration and Ethnic StudiesMigracijske i etničke teme1333-25461848-91842012-08-01282119141The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration ProcessesSimona Kuti0Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, CroatiaIn contemporary migration studies transnational perspective is more widespread as a result of critical questioning of methodological nationalism in the social sciences. In the literature on transnational processes within migration studies the concepts of “transnationalism”, “transnational social spaces” and “transnational social fields” emerge and these should have a significant future role in conceiving social reality. Nevertheless, these terms and concepts are ambiguously defined and insufficiently developed. The paper presents the main approaches to the concept of transnational social spaces (Pries, Faist) and transnational social fields (Levitt and Glick Schiller), comparing their basic elements and differences. After a review and individual critique of selected approaches, the last part of the paper emphasizes common elements and concepts’ critique, including inadequate theoretical rootedness and a lack of clear dimensions and indicators for the operationalisation of concepts. Despite shortcomings, the segments of discussed approaches indicate relevant processes and research questions that could sensitise researchers to biases of methodological nationalism in conceptualising society as a national container.http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/129433transnational social spacetransnational social fieldsmigrationsmethodological nationalismtransnationalism
spellingShingle Simona Kuti
The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
Migracijske i etničke teme
transnational social space
transnational social fields
migrations
methodological nationalism
transnationalism
title The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
title_full The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
title_fullStr The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
title_full_unstemmed The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
title_short The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
title_sort concepts of transnational social spaces and fields in the study of migration and post migration processes
topic transnational social space
transnational social fields
migrations
methodological nationalism
transnationalism
url http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/129433
work_keys_str_mv AT simonakuti theconceptsoftransnationalsocialspacesandfieldsinthestudyofmigrationandpostmigrationprocesses
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