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Transnational People

The term transnational people refers to individuals with ties to two or more nation-states. These individuals live their lives across borders and are simultaneously incorporated in two or more societies. Within these societies, transnational people participate in the movement of people, capital, information, culture, and ideologies from one nation-state to another. Because of this movement, a strong relationship exists between life in the country of origin and the new country of residence. In their old and new countries, transnational people attempt to maintain multilevel connections involving political, economic, cultural, racial/ethnic, and familial issues, and to successfully balance living between both worlds.

An alternate definition of transnational people exists. Some define transnational people as individuals belonging to a network of activists working together as part of a socialist movement. In this sense, transnational people promote artistic, social, environmental, and technological projects to advance a specific social movement. These people use global ties to discuss, exchange, and further their agenda in different parts of the world. This entry focuses on the first definition.

Transnational versus Immigrant

Transnational people share similar experiences with immigrants in regard to leaving their countries of origin and making new homes in unfamiliar places. This leads some to believe that the concept of transnationals dates back to early immigrant communities with strong ties to “home,” making transnationals and immigrants analogous. However, the concept of transnational people is a unique part of today's society because of its link with recent, rapid increases in globalization. The concept emerged in the late 1990s and has gained increased scholarly attention during the past few years. Scholars suggest that the notion of transnational people encompasses much more than keeping in touch with an individual's country of origin or harboring strong sentiments for the place left behind.

Thus, transnational people differ from immigrants in fundamental ways. Unlike immigrants, transnational people are never completely assimilated into their new country. They strive to maintain connections with family and friends in their country of origin, while establishing meaningful ties in their new countries. Furthermore, transnational people are functioning members of social or economic organizations in both societies. As a result, they may act as cultural brokers or go-betweens and are useful to people on both sides of the border. Conversely, immigrants, once settled in their new country, typically no longer participate in social or economic activities in their former homes. Rather, they become assimilated into the mainstream society of their new countries. As a result, they tend to focus their attention on activities in the new environment and often leave behind their native languages or cultures.

Motives of Transnationals

Despite the fundamental differences between the two groups, research literature on immigration has identified several motives for leaving home and settling elsewhere; these motives are similar to those that influence an individual to become a transnational person. Typically, individuals have personal or structural reasons for relocating. For some, they are leaving behind a life of social exclusion in their country of origin, with expectations of helping to improve living conditions for those who remain. Others are escaping economic or political instability in hopes of bettering life for their families or, in some cases, in anticipation of beginning families in sounder environments. Still others become transnational people simply because their occupations or daily activities require sustained contacts across borders. Over time, these individuals begin to perceive both countries as home and thus adopt transnational identities. Once relocated, some individuals maintain connections to global networks to diminish the effects of being racial minorities in their new societies. For these individuals, being a transnational person is a tactic to combat potential feelings of racialized exclusion in the new country.

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