Abstract
This paper draws upon several transnational theories from Glick Schiller, Wimmer, Faist, and Sassen and analyses the major theoretical and methodological shifts in migration studies. In response to such changes, multi-sited ethnography has been introduced as a main research method; it differs from the traditional way of doing migration research, where spatially-defined ethnic minority communities serve as the primary fieldwork sites; instead, moving between different sites allows researchers to follow individual migrants, whose social networks have become the main focus. Moreover, such a research method also redefines the traditional notion of “field”, which is now believed to be with blurred and softening boundaries. Through my research project, I have analysed how translocal communities constitute global diasporic networks; I have also come to the conclusion that transnational migrants themselves are involved in very fluid patterns and complex processes of identification and affiliation; their social networks, which consist of multiple relationships such as familial, economic, social, organisational, and political, are not geographically bounded, but these networks cross over and connect different types of social spaces in a wide variety of cultural, institutional, professional, and other kinds of context.
Highlights
In the contemporary world of globalisation and transnational migration, the traditional notion of cultures has been radically challenged
Re-examining the concepts of culture and identity has led to a series of theoretical and methodological shifts in migration studies, which have presented an ongoing tendency to move away from the traditional mode, in which individual migrants were solely positioned in a particular country or in a spatially-defined ethnic community; instead, research attention has been shifted onto migrants themselves, their life trajectory and social networks
The model of multi-sited ethnography goes beyond the boundaries of nation and community, and captures the multi-facets of the immigrants’ life, which is represented by their worldwide transnational social networks and their close connections with people living in very distant geographic locations
Summary
In the contemporary world of globalisation and transnational migration, the traditional notion of cultures has been radically challenged. Rather than confined within separate territory or community, cultures are believed to go beyond national borders, while having blurred boundaries and overlapping with each other. Individuals may at one time belong to more than one cultural group, so their identities and ways of life may nest inside one another. Re-examining the concepts of culture and identity has led to a series of theoretical and methodological shifts in migration studies, which have presented an ongoing tendency to move away from the traditional mode, in which individual migrants were solely positioned in a particular country or in a spatially-defined ethnic community; instead, research attention has been shifted onto migrants themselves, their life trajectory and social networks
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