Migration has been evolving over the years in terms of its causes, scale, dynamics, and consequences. This evolution presents challenges for both its research and theorizing. Traditionally, migration was conceptualized as a unidirectional process involving people changing places of residence—moving from a place of origin to a place of destination, either permanently or semi-permanently. Economic factors were given prominence as both “pull” and “push” factors. People were seen to be pulled toward places of destination by better economic prospects than those available in their places of origin. In the same vein, people were viewed as being pushed from their places of origin by harsh socio-economic and political factors. Once in their places of destination, the focus of migration theorists and researchers was largely on the integration of migrants into their new environments. Contemporary trends in migration, such as transnationalism, irregular migration, feminization, child migration, and its non-linearity, call for eclecticism in both theorizing and research. This paper examines how the transnationalization of migration requires a multi-paradigmatic and multi-method approach to capture the lived experiences of migrants. Transnationalism presents particular challenges to the traditional conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement of migration, as researchers attempt to understand transnational experiences such as multiple involvements and exclusions, cultural hybridization, and identity formation.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Problem of Operationalization
- The Problem of Terminology
- The Ontological Problem
- The Epistemological Problem
- The Data Collection Problem
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the challenges of researching transnational migration, focusing on the need for eclecticism in theory and methodology. It explores the difficulties in defining and operationalizing "transnationalism," highlighting the complexities arising from its multi-causal and multi-dimensional nature. The paper also addresses ontological and epistemological questions surrounding the study of transnational migration and the challenges associated with data collection in this area.
- The need for theoretical and methodological eclecticism in transnational migration research.
- The difficulties in defining and operationalizing the concept of "transnationalism."
- Ontological and epistemological challenges in studying transnational migration.
- Challenges associated with data collection in transnational migration research.
- The limitations of existing research methodologies in capturing the complexity of transnational experiences.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the evolving nature of migration, highlighting its increasing complexity due to factors such as transnationalism, irregular migration, and feminization. It emphasizes the need for eclecticism in both theorizing and researching migration to adequately address these contemporary trends. The chapter sets the stage for exploring the challenges in understanding and researching transnational migration, particularly focusing on the difficulties in conceptualization and measurement.
The Problem of Operationalization: This section delves into the difficulties of operationalizing the concept of transnationalism for research. The chapter discusses the varied and often conflicting definitions of transnationalism found in the literature, highlighting the resulting challenges in establishing clear variables and measurable concepts. It emphasizes how the deterritorialization of concepts like "community," "household," and "citizenship" further complicates measurement and theoretical development. The multi-causal and multidimensional aspects of transnationalism are explored, underscoring the lack of straightforward answers to questions regarding its causes and consequences, such as the role of cultural hybridization and information technology.
The Problem of Terminology: This chapter examines the ambiguous and often contested usage of the term "transnationalism." It discusses the risk of it becoming a "catch-all" concept, lacking precision and analytical power. The chapter explores the challenges in distinguishing transnational activities from older forms of cross-border interaction, and the debate surrounding its relationship with concepts such as globalization, internationalization, and diaspora studies. The discussion includes various attempts to categorize and clarify the term, such as Portes' four categories of cross-national border activities and the distinction between "narrow" and "broad" transnationalism. The chapter concludes by highlighting the ongoing debates regarding the appropriate and meaningful use of the term.
The Ontological Problem: This section addresses the fundamental question of what is being studied when researching transnationalism. It explores the argument that what immigration scholars often label as transnationalism may actually represent "highly particularistic attachments" contradicting the effects of globalization. The chapter emphasizes the challenge of reconciling the concept of transnationalism with the continued power of nation-states to shape and regulate migration. It further explores the distinction between "transnationalism from above" (by states and international corporations) and "transnationalism from below" (by international migrants), and the potential limitations of applying the term "transnational" to state actions.
The Epistemological Problem: This chapter focuses on the epistemological challenges inherent in the study of transnational migration. Building upon the ontological uncertainties, this section explores the question of what can be reliably known about transnationalism, given the lack of consensus on its definition and operationalization. The discussion highlights the impact of this lack of agreement on the development of a robust theoretical framework, underscoring the difficulties in integrating diverse aspects of transnationalism and establishing clear variables and limits. It reflects on the existing limitations and challenges in the field regarding knowledge acquisition and theoretical advancement.
The Data Collection Problem: This section addresses the practical difficulties involved in collecting data on transnational migration. The chapter highlights the challenges of studying migrants' involvement across multiple social spaces, often requiring research across multiple sites. It discusses the limitations of single-site studies and the difficulties of creating a comprehensive understanding of transmigrants' lives across societies of origin and destination. While acknowledging critiques of existing methodologies, the chapter emphasizes the lack of consensus on how to overcome these practical limitations, acknowledging that while multi-sited approaches are valuable, single-site studies can still provide valuable insights.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Transnational migration, transnationalism, migration research, methodology, eclecticism, operationalization, terminology, ontology, epistemology, data collection, multi-sited research, cultural hybridization, international migration, globalization.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of this language preview about Transnational Migration Research?
This language preview outlines the objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords related to research on transnational migration. It highlights the challenges and complexities inherent in studying this phenomenon.
What are the key objectives and themes covered in the paper?
The paper primarily focuses on the need for theoretical and methodological eclecticism in transnational migration research. It examines the difficulties in defining and operationalizing "transnationalism," ontological and epistemological challenges, and data collection issues. It also addresses the limitations of current research methodologies in capturing the complexity of transnational experiences.
What are the main challenges discussed in the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries address several key challenges, including: the problem of operationalizing "transnationalism" due to its varied definitions; the ambiguity in the term "transnationalism" itself; the ontological question of what is actually being studied; the epistemological problems related to reliably knowing about transnationalism; and the practical difficulties in data collection across multiple sites.
What is the 'Problem of Operationalization' chapter about?
This chapter discusses the difficulty of defining and measuring "transnationalism" due to its varied interpretations in academic literature. It also covers the challenges posed by the deterritorialization of key concepts like community, household, and citizenship.
What does the 'Problem of Terminology' chapter examine?
This chapter focuses on the imprecise and often contested use of the term "transnationalism." It discusses the risk of the term becoming overly broad and lacking analytical power, and explores the relationship between transnationalism and other concepts like globalization, internationalization, and diaspora studies.
What ontological challenges are discussed in the preview?
The preview addresses the fundamental question of what is being studied when researching transnationalism, and the challenge of reconciling the concept with the ongoing influence of nation-states. It also explores the distinction between "transnationalism from above" and "transnationalism from below."
What epistemological challenges are highlighted in the preview?
The epistemological challenges focus on the limitations in reliably knowing about transnationalism due to the lack of consensus on its definition. This impacts the development of a robust theoretical framework and the integration of diverse aspects of the phenomenon.
What are the main data collection challenges discussed?
The main data collection challenges include the difficulty of studying migrants' lives across multiple social spaces, the limitations of single-site studies, and the overall difficulty of capturing the comprehensive transnational experiences of migrants.
What are the keywords associated with this research area?
The keywords include: Transnational migration, transnationalism, migration research, methodology, eclecticism, operationalization, terminology, ontology, epistemology, data collection, multi-sited research, cultural hybridization, international migration, and globalization.
- Quote paper
- Felix Chilumpha (Author), 2021, Researching Current Migration. A Case for Theoretical and Methodological Eclecticism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1560132
