Transnationalism and the making of diasporas
Résumé
Diaspora and transnationalism are two proximate concepts commonly used by migration scholars. Both terms are sometimes interchangeably used to name and analyze migratory, cross-border socialities. And yet, beyond their apparent closeness, both concepts convey distinct understandings of migration processes that may be seen as exclusive of each other. The chapter investigates the relations between both terms. In the first part of the chapter, a historical overview of their making shows that they are embedded in distinct epistemologies. Although both concepts have a disjointed (not to say confrontational) intellectual trajectory, I argue that diasporas can be regarded as specific forms of transnational communities. The second part outlines a theoretical approach binding both transnational and diasporic dynamics. The conclusion exposes some of the theoretical conundrums that have surged with the restrictiveness of migration policies and the closing of borders in a post-COVID world.