Transnationalism and Society

In the past, as in the present, transnationalism has played a vital role in the development of wealth, technology and art in all societies touched by cultures other than their own. This timely book provides an introduction to the social and cultural aspects of transnationalism, particularly focusing on the modern world since 1500, with an emphasis on the past 200 years. Topics covered include the role of migration, the development of cities, the effect of transnationalism on marriage and families, the presence of transnational corporations, dress, religion and art. A key text for understanding our increasingly transnational world.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Michael C. Howard is a professor of International Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He is editor of the series Studies in the Material Cultures of Southeast Asia and author or editor of more than 30 books.

Michael C. Howard
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 321
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6454-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8625-0
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. AN OVERVIEW      3

Terminology      4

The State, Ethnicity, Nation Building, and Transnationalism      5

Globalization, Transnationalism, and Culture      14

Transnational Social Spaces and Their Context      20

Enabling Factors      24

2. MIGRATION IN THE MODERN WORLD      33

Patterns of Migration      35

Involuntary International Migration      37

Voluntary Labor Migration: Contract Laborers      46

Voluntary Labor Migration: European Colonial Administration and Settlers      57

Post-Colonial Voluntary Migrants      61

Contemporary Migration Patterns      65

3. CITIES      68

Transnationalism and Cities       68

Transnationalism and Modern Cities from 1350 to 1800      76

Modern Imperial and Colonial Cities      84

Megacities and Global Cities      90

Contemporary Transnational Cities in Asia      92

4. MARRIAGE AND FAMILIES      98

Marriage Alliances Between Elites Across Borders      98

Transnational Marriages Within Ethno-National Groups      100

Inter-Ethnic Transnational Marriages      108

Transnational Family Networks      116

5. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS      121

Modern Transnational Corporations      121

The Global Middle Class      131

Feeding the World’s Middle Class      139

Transnational Corporate Culture      146

6. CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NETWORKS      155

Nigerian Transnational Criminal Networks      156

The Golden Triangle      162

International Gangster Organizations      169

7. RELIGION      186

Religion and Universality      187

Pilgrimages      187

Missionaries      195

8. DRESS      224

Technology, Fashion, and Trade      225

Dress and Religion      241

Dress and Ethnic Identity      251

9. THE ARTS      255

Categorizing the Arts and Their Cultural Context      256

Transnational Performing Arts      257

Transnational Plastic Arts      268

Chapter Notes      277

References      293

Index      305

“Howard provides a multidisciplinary, undergraduate-level introduction to social and cultural aspects of transnationalism. He takes a historical approach to the material, covering transnationalism in the modern world since the 1500s, emphasizing developments from the 1800s to the present”—Reference & Research Book News.