Marburg, Germany - Course Descriptions - Transnationalism from Below: Transmigration in Europe and North America

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Aims and Content:

Transnationalism has become an important conceptual approach in migration research, claiming to leave behind “methodological nationalism”, renouncing an assimilationist perspective  and shifting the focus away from ethnicization and ethnic enclaves in the receiving societies. The term “transnational” refers to human activities and social institutions that span national borders. It is argued, that in the 21st century, an increasing number of people will live their lives across borders and participate in social (familial, economic, organizational, religious, and political) relations embedding them in more than one nation-state. “Transnational social spaces” – newly emerging structures within migration processes sustained by migrant networks – facilitate the exchange of people, goods, information and symbols irrespective of geographical or political boundaries.

In this seminar, we will engage in discussions on recent conceptual approaches in migration research. In addition, we will concentrate on studies which focus on the United States and European countries as “receiving societies” for transmigrants. Thus, the seminar will be dedicated to both conceptual questions and case studies.

As this course is conducted as a seminar, regular and active class participation (including being prepared by doing the readings) is essential. Students will also be required to give a presentation on one of the topics. Writing assignments include: a proposal for a term paper (3 pages) and a final term paper (15-20 pages).

A detailed course description will be available at the beginning of October 2008 from the following website: http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/soziologie/institut/wissensch_ma/zimmer/lehre

Bibliography:

• Levitt, Peggy / Jaworsky, B. Nadia (2007): »Transnational Migration Studies: Past Developments and Future Trends«, in: Annual Review of Sociology, 33: 129-156.
• Portes, Alejandro, et al. (1999): »The Study of Transnationalism: Pitfalls and Promises of an Emergent Research Field«, in: Ethnic and Racial Studies, 22, 2: 217-237.