Migrants' Transnationality, Societal Transformation, and Locality: an Introduction

Abstract

The implications of migrants' transnational engagements for processes of change and development in the regions of origin are attracting increased attention from both policymakers and academics. Rather than addressing the positive effects of migration and transnationality on local development, this special issue suggests a focus on the relationship between this phenomenon and broader societal transformation, thereby acknowledging the renewed importance of place and locality. To this end, this introduction provides an overview of the current debate on transnational dynamics in relation to societal transformation, local development, and inequality. Central to our analysis is the way in which migrants' transnationality engages with the hierarchies that exist between and within localities, and how this reproduces social inequalities. This introduction thus also reflects the key themes that are addressed in the five papers that make up this special issue on transnational dynamics, transformation, and locality.

Migration in Differentiated Localities: Changing Statuses and Ethnic Relations in a Multi‐Ethnic Locality in Transylvania, Romania

“…Driven by the large and ever‐growing flow of remittances worldwide, studies have unfolded the multiple ways in which migration and migrant transnationalism contribute to economic and social development in countries of origin (Faist et al ., ). By sustaining continuous and multiple social, political, and economic relations across state borders, migrants, networks, and associations are often considered essential development actors who alter the social and economic life in countries of origin, producing social and institutional change (Glick‐Schiller & Faist, ; Fauser & Nijenhuis, ).…”

Collective Remittances and Development in Rural Mexico: a View from Chicago's Mexican Hometown Associations

“…As observed here and in other papers in this special issue, increased transnational migrant involvement has unintentionally created new unequal power dynamics and access to resources at the local levels (Fauser & Nijenhuis, ). These dynamics are changing the role of locality in benefiting community development in rural communities and creating unequal access to public funds among those who are excluded from collective remittances.…”

“…In 2011, according to the estimates calculated by the National Evaluating Council of Social Development Policy, 67% of the population living in municipalities with very high migratory intensity were classified as poor (SEDESOL, ). Therefore, migrant remittances do not significantly reduce income inequalities, but rather, they can increase the inequalities among those who are excluded from them in rural areas with high expulsion (Fauser & Nijenhuis, ).…”

Trust and Hometown Associations in Haitian Post‐Earthquake Reconstruction

“…The Mexican diaspora is the most salient and studied case of HTAs in the US (Bada, 2015;Fauser & Nijenhuis, 2015). There are approximately 3,000 Mexican HTAs in the United States (Orozco & Zanello, 2009, p.1).…”