Diaspora & transnationalism are widely used concepts in academic & political discourses. Although originally referring to quite different phenomena, they increasingly overlap today. Such inflation of meanings goes hand in hand with a danger of essentialising collective identities. This book analyses this topic.

This book examines issues related to transnational movements of human beings and capital from the vantage point of contemporary perspectives, and literary and cultural tropes of such experiences.It discusses the nuanced differences between 'diaspora' and 'transnationalism', and traces the trajectory of theories of diaspora and transnationalism. It enumerates the history of old and new diasporas, explains how diaspora generates acculturation and cultural hybridity, and shows how it impacts ideologies of gender, sexuality, religion and state policies, and politics of immigration and citizenship. The volume also discusses how Diaspora Studies may reconfigure its priorities in the future.

Examines the development of the concept of diaspora and new perspectives on global networks and local identities. Features case histories on the Caribbean, Irish, Irish-American, Armenian, African and Greek diasporas.

A Companion to Diaspora and Transnationalism offers a ground-breaking combined discussion of the concepts of diaspora and transnationalism. Newly commissioned essays by leading scholars provide interdisciplinary perspectives that link together the concepts in new and important ways. A wide-ranging collection which reviews the most significant developments and provides valuable insights into current key debates in transnational and diaspora studies Contains newly commissioned essays by leading scholars, which will both influence the field, and stimulate further insight and discussion in the future Provides interdisciplinary perspectives on diaspora and transnationalism which link the two concepts in new and important ways Combines theoretical discussion with specific examples and case studies

This book deals with transnationalism and captures its singularity as a generalized phenomenon. The profusion of transnational communities is a factor of fluidity in social orders and represents confrontations between contingencies and basic socio-cultural drives. It has created a new era different from the past at essential respects. This is an age of enriching cultural diversity fraught with threatening risks inextricably linked to contemporary globalization. National sovereignty is eroded from above by global processes, from below by aspirations of sub-national groups, and from the sides - by transnational allegiances. This is the backdrop against which this book delves into the fundamental issues relating to the nature, scope and overall significance of transnationalism.

Pacific Islanders have engaged in transnational practices since their first settlement of the many islands in the region. As they moved beyond the Pacific and settled in nations such as New Zealand, the U.S. and Australia these practices intensified and over time have profoundly shaped both home and diasporic communities. This edited volume begins with a detailed account of this history and the key issues in Pacific migration and transnationalism today. The papers that follow present a range of case studies that maintain this focus on both historical and contemporary perspectives. Each of the contributors goes beyond a narrowly economic focus to present the human face of migration and transnationalism; exploring questions of cultural values and identity, transformations in kinship, intergenerational change and the impact on home communities. Pacific migration and transnationalism are addressed in this volume in the context of increasing globalisation and growing concerns about the future social, political and economic security of the Pacific region. As the case studies presented here show, the future of the Pacific depends in many ways on the ties diasporic Islanders maintain with their homelands.

While placing the notion of transnationalism within the broader study of globalization, this book particularly addresses the emergence and impacts of migrant transnational practices. Each chapter demonstrates ways in which new and contemporary transnational activities of migrants are fundamentally transforming social, religious, political and economic structures within their 'homelands' and places of settlement.