The human dynamics of migrant transnationalism

Abstract How is migrant transnationalism shaped by the human dynamics of relationships between migrants and non-migrants? This question is addressed through an analysis of asymmetries between migrants and non-migrants in three spheres of transnational life: the moralities of transnationalism, information and imagination in transnational relations, and transnational resource inequalities. Understanding transnational practices such as sending remittances and facilitating migration, it is argued, requires attention to the dynamics of the relationships between individuals. Fieldwork material from Cape Verde and the Netherlands is combined with secondary literature from other parts of the world in order to develop an analytical framework for comparative research. Keywords: Transnationalismmigrantsnon-migrantsmoralitiesresourcesinformation Notes 1. Calculated on the basis of unpublished statistics from Statistics Netherlands. The second generation is defined as persons born in the Netherlands with one or two Cape Verdean-born parents. 2. Calculated on the basis of unpublished survey data from Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional 2002 (N = 9596). 3. There are, of course, exceptions, including Strijp (Citation1997); Halstead (Citation2002); Landolt and Da (Citation2005) and Parreñas (Citation2005). 4. The latter sentence is difficult to translate from Kriol: Mas important e kel fala (literally 'Most important is that conversation'). 'Fala' means 'speech' or 'conversation' and refers to the expression dá fala (literally 'give conversation'), which is very commonly used in Kriol to describe informal visits. The use of the demonstrative pronoun 'kel' entails a certain ambiguity: 'kel' is used liberally in Kriol because there is no definite article, but nevertheless has a demonstrative quality, indicating that 'that conversation' (a visit by an emigrant on holiday) is a distinct concept. 5. The term 'moral economy' is used in very different ways. It was originally coined as a reaction to economistic explanations of food riots in England (Thompson Citation1971). It is still often used to highlight non-economic aspects of 'the economy'. 6. Akudinobi also relates Gito to the 'been-to' archetype of post-independence African literature, i.e. an African educated in the colonial metropole, embodying notions of cultural superiority. In many African countries, more recent labour migrants have to deal with the fact that the stereotype of 'been-to' is already established in the popular imagination. 7. The income of Cape Verdean households in the Netherlands is 20 per cent lower than the average (Statistics Netherlands Citation2003). Among non-migrants in Cape Verde, people who have relatives in the Netherlands are probably wealthier than those who do not, even without taking remittances into account. There are no statistics that can confirm this claim directly, but it is plausible in light of analyses which show that access to material resources makes it easier to realize one's aspirations to emigrate (Carling Citation2002). 8. Possible migration strategies are more numerous and complex, often involving other European countries. For instance, Cape Verdeans may obtain tourist visas to the Netherlands and then move to other countries where living or working illegally is less difficult. Alternatively, they can move to the Netherlands after acquiring a residence permit in another European country. In both cases, settling in Europe without depending on a relationship may be possible, although assistance from settled immigrants is often a prerequisite for acquiring a tourist visa.