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Transnationalism In Question, Roger D. Waldinger, David Fitzgerald

Roger D Waldinger

This paper seeks a critical engagement with the new literature on immigrant “transnationalism,” which correctly notes that connectivity between source and destination points is an inherent aspect of the migration phenomenon. In so doing, however, this new literature highlights the characteristics shared by all forms of long-distance migration and therefore fails to identify the traits distinctive to migration across states, of which the political element is the most important. States seek to control movement across territorial boundaries – exit as well as entry -- which is why defining “transnationalism” in terms of the “regular and sustained” cross-border activities of individuals, …