SOC6109 ETHNICITY II

Transnational Perspectives on Migration

May-June, Tuesdays-Thursdays 3-5pm

Professor Patricia Landolt

landolt@utsc.utoronto.ca

 

Transnationalism – whether as paradigm, method or outcome – has complicated the study of international migration, challenging established theoretical frameworks and methodological assumptions and points of departure.  In the first part of the course we will consider foundational texts in the scholarship on transnational migration from early contributions in anthropology to more recent discussions that seek to consolidate a conceptual language for the study of transnational migration.  In the second half of the course we will explore specific topics in the field of international migration and immigrant incorporation from the perspective of transnationalism.  This course outline provides an overview of the assignments and topics to be covered as well as the course reading list.  Additional recommended readings will be provided in class and some assigned texts may change.  A course package will be available for purchase, details to follow.

 

Assignments:

·                     Take home exam, 25%

·                     Topic Commentary, 25%

·                     Final paper, 40%

·                     Participation (weekly discussions, final presentation) 10%

 

Week

Date

Topic / Activity

Discussion Leader

1

May 6

Introduction

xxxx

2

May 8

Mainstream approaches

 

3

May 13

Transnational approaches

 

4

May 15

Methodological considerations I

 

5

May 20

Methodological considerations II

 

6

May 22

Review for take-home exam

xxxx

7

May 27

Sociocultural Transnationalism I

Take home exam due

 

8

May 29

Sociocultural Transnatioanlism II

 

9

June 3

State Citizen Relations

 

10

June 5

Politics of Recognition

 

11

June 10

Work & Livelihoods

 

12

June 12

Uncertain Legal Status

 

13

June 17

Presentations ~ Final Discussion

Commentary due

 

 

July 4

Final paper due

 

 

Weekly Readings

 

Part 1

 

1): May 6

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

 

2): May 8

MAINSTREAM APPROACHES TO MIGRATION & INCORPORATION

 

Portes, A. and J. Böröcz (1989). "Contemporary Immigration: Theoretical Perspectives on Its Determinants and Modes of Incorporation." International Migration Review 23(3): 606-630

 

Massey, D. S., J. Arango, et al. (1993). "Theories of International Migration: A Review and Appraisa." Population and Development Review 19(3): 431-46

 

Waters, M. and T. Jimenez (2005). "Assessing Immigrant Assimilation: New Empirical & Theoretical Trends." Annual Review of Sociology 31: 105-

 

3) May 13

TRANSNATIONAL APPROACHES TO MIGRATION & INCORPORATION

 

Glick Schiller, Nina, Linda Basch and Cristina Szanton Blanc. 1995.  “From Immigrant to Transmigrant: Theorizing Transnational Migration."  Anthropological Quarterly 68(1): 48-63.

Portes, Alejandro, Luis Guarnizo and Patricia Landolt.  1999.  “The study of transnationalism: pitfalls and promise of an emergent research field.”  Ethnic and Racial Studies 22(2):217-237). 

Faist, Thomas. 2000. "Transnationalization in international migration:  implications for the study of citizenship and culture." Ethnic and Racial Studies 23:189-222

Goldring, Luin and Sailaja Krishnamurti.  2007.  “Introduction.”  Pp. 1-22 in Organizing the Transnational.

Levitt, Peggy and Nadya B. Jaworsky. 2007.  “Transnational Migration Studies: Past Developments and Future Trends.” Annual Review of Sociology 33:129-156.

 

4) May 15:

METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS: FLOWS, UNITS, LEVELS, SCALES

 

Marcus, G. E. (1995). "Ethnography in/of the World System: The Emergence of Multi-Sited Ethnography." Annual Review of Anthropology 24: 95-117

 

Brettell, C. and J. F. Hollifield (2000). Introduction: Migration Theory Talking across Disciplines. Migration Theory: Talking Across Disciplines. C. Brettel and J. F. Hollifield. New York, Routledge: 1-27

 

Fog Olwig, Karen.  2003.  ““Transnational” socio-cultual systems and ethnographic research: views from an extended field site.”  International Migration Review 37(3): 787(25).

 

Fitzgerald, D. (2006). "Towards a Theoretical Ethnography of Migration." Qualitative Sociology 29(1):

 

5) May 20:

METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS: THE OBSCURING POWER OF CATEGORIES

 

Basch, L., N. Glick-Schiller, et al. (1994). Nations Unbound: Transnational Projects, Postcolonial Predicaments and Deterritorialized Nation-States. Amsterdam, Gordon and Breach. Excerpts from chapter 1.

 

Wimmer, A. and N. Glick-Schiller (2003). "Methodological nationalism, the social sciences, and the study of migration: an essay in historical epistemology." International Migration Review 37(3): 576-610

 

Glick-Schiller, N. (2005). "Transnational social fields and imperialism." Anthropological Theory 5(4): 439-461.

 

Glick Schiller, Nina, Ayse Caglar, and Thaddeus C. Guldbrandsen. 2006. "Beyond the ethnic lens: locality, globality, and born-again incorporation." American Ethnologist 33: 612(22).

6) May 22:

DISCUSSION & REVIEW IN PREPARATION FOR TAKE HOME EXAM

 

Part 2

7) May 27:

SOCIOCULTURAL TRANSNATIONALISM WITH A FOCUS ON RELIGION

 

Itzigsohn, J. and S. Giorguli Saucedo (2001). "Immigrant Incorporation and Sociocultural Transnationalism." International Migration Review 36(3): 766-799.

 

Kurien, P. (2001). "Religion, Ethnicity and Politics: Hindu and Muslim Indian Immigrants in the United States." Ethnic and Racial Studies 24(2): 263-293.

 

Levitt, P. (2004). "Redefining the Boundaries of Belonging: The Institutional Character of Transnational Religious Life." Sociology of Religion 65(1): 1-18

 

8): May 29

SOCIOCULTURAL TRANSNATIONALISM: CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS

 

Levitt, P. and M. C. Waters (2002). Chapter 1 Introduction The Changing Face of Home.  The Transnational Lives of the Second Generation. New York, Russell Sage Foundation

 

Rumbaut, R. G. (2002). Severed or Sustained Attachments?:  Language, Identity, and Imagined Communities in the Post-Immigrant Generation. The Changing Face of Home.  The Transnational Lives of the Second Generation. P. Levitt and M. C. Waters. New York, Russell Sage Foundation: 43-95

 

Haller, W. and P. Landolt (2005). "The Transnational Dimensions of Identity Formation: Adult Children of Immigrants in Miami." Ethnic and Racial Studies 28(6): 1182-1214

 

Levitt, Peggy.  Forthcoming, 2009. “Roots and Routes: Understanding the Lives of the Second Generation Transnationally” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (manuscript)

 

9): June 3

TRANSNATIONAL POLITICS: STATE-CITIZEN RELATIONS

 

Levitt, P. and R. de la Dehesa (2003). "Transnational migration and the redefinition of the state:  Variations and explanations." Ethnic and Racial Studies 26(4): 587-611

 

Itzigsohn, J. (2000). "Immigration and the boundaries of citizenship: The institutions of immigrants' political transnationalism." International Migration Review 34(4): 1126-1154.

 

Ostergaard-Nielsen, E. (2003). "The Politics of Migrants' Transnational Political Practices." International Migration Review 37(3): 760-788

 

10): June 5

TRANSNATIONAL POLITICS I: Recognition, Claims Making and Incorporation

 

Karpathakis, Anna.  1999.  "Home Society Politics and Immigrant Political Incorporation: The Case of Greek Immigrants in New York City."  International Migration Review 33(1):55-78.

 

Fox, J. (2005). "Unpacking "Transnational Citizenship"." Annual Review of Political Science 8: 171-201.

 

Kelly, P. (2007). Transnationalism and Political Participation among Filipinos in Canada. Organizing the Transnational: The Experience of Asian and Latin American Migrants in Canada. L. Goldring and S. V. Krishnamurti. Vancouver, University of British Columbia Press: 215-231.

 

Landolt, Patricia & Luin Goldring.  2008 (manuscript).  “Activist Dialogues and the Constitution of Transnational Political Spaces: Chilean, Colombian and Canadian Activisms in Latin American”

 

11): June 10

MOBILE LIVELIHOODS, PRECARIOUS WORK and QUESTIONS OF INCLUSION

 

Landolt, Patricia.  2001.  “Salvadoran economic transnationalism: embedded strategies for household maintenance, immigrant incorporation, and entrepreneurial expansion.”  Global Networks 1(3): 217-241.

Wong, Madeleine. 2006. "The gendered politics of remittances in Ghanaian transnational families." Economic Geography 82:355

Prebisch, K. (2007). Globalizing Work, Globalizing Citizenship: Community-Migrant Worker Alliances in Southwestern Ontario. Organizing the Transnational: The Experience of Asian and Latin American Migrants in Canada. L. Goldring and S. V. Krishnamurti. Vancouver, University of British Columbia Press: 97-114

 

Prebisch, K. and S. Raper (2007). Forcing Governments to Govern in Defence of Noncitizen Workers: A Story about the Canadian Labour Movement's Alliance with Agricultural Migrants. Organizing the Transnational: The Experience of Asian and Latin American Migrants in Canada. L. Goldring and S. V. Krishnamurti. Vancouver, University of British Columbia Press: 115-129

 

12): June 12

MIGRATION & UNCERTAIN LEGAL STATUS: REFUGEES & TEMPORARY WORKERS

 

Calavita, Kitty. 1998. “Immigration, Law and Marginalization in a Global Economy: Notes from Spain.” Law and Society Review 32 (3): 529-526.

 

Sharma, Nandita.  2001.  “On being Not Canadian” Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology. 

 

Nolin, Catherine L.  2002.  “Transnational ruptures and sutures: questions of identity and social relations among Guatemalans in Canada.”  GeoJournal 56: 59-67.

Menjivar, C. 2006. "Liminal legality: Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigrants' lives in the United States." American Journal of Sociology 111: 999-1037.

Al-Ali, Nadje, Richard Black and Khalid Koser.  2001.  “Refugee Transnationalism: The Experience of Bosnians and Eritreans in Europe.”  Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 27(4): 615-634.

OR

Koser, Khalid.  2001.  “From Refugees to Transnational Communities?”  Bulletin of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies 3(1):109-126.

 

13): June 17

PRESENTATIONS ~ FINAL DISCUSSION