New Approaches to Migration: Transnational Communities and the Transformation of Home

Abstract

The literature on transnational migration has so far mainly emerged in the context of labour migration to the United States. The question arises if, and in how far, existing theories and models revolving around transnationalism can be applied to different historical, cultural and political contexts, such as migration within or to Europe, for example. The attempt to apply, critically examine and challenge existing notions about transnational migration constituted an underlying goal in the first annual conference of the ESRC Transnational Communities Programme. A specific focus on the relationship between 'migrant/refugee communities' and 'home' created the framework in which to analyse the meaning and significance of transnational practices and fields.