Transnational Studies Reader

In recent years, 'transnationalism' has become a key analytical concept across the social sciences. While theoretical approaches to the study of global social phenomena have traditionally focused on the nation-state as the central defining framework, transnational studies views social experience as a complex and dynamic product of multiple regional, ethnic, and institutional identities. Far from being static or bounded by national borders, social, political, and economic forces operate on supra-national, trans-regional, and trans-local scales and scopes. Transnational studies compares and contrasts these dynamics to rethink assumptions about identity, sovereignty, and citizenship. Assembling writings from some of the most important theorists in history, politics, economics, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies, The Transnationalism Reader explores the ways that transnational practices and processes in different domains, and at different levels of social interaction, relate to, and inform each other. It also compares the spatial organization of social life during different historical periods.Coherent in its vision and expansive in its disciplinary, geographic, and historical coverage, The Transnationalism Reader is a field-defining collection.

"The multiple literatures on transnational processes and globalization have grown so fast that they threaten our ability to keep up. These literatures are also wildly uneven, as anyone who has waded into these scholarly waters can attest. Sanjeev Khagram and Peggy Levitt have thus performed an invaluable service by pulling together so many diverse and high quality pieces in a single volume. This is simply a "must" collection for anyone interested in understanding the complex and linked economic, political and cultural processes that are rapidly reshaping the world in which we live." -- Doug McAdam'The Transnational Studies Reader provides key groundworks underpinning the comparative analysis of globe-spanning social networks. It is an indispensable contribution to a burgeoning field.' - Steven Vertovec, Professor of Transnational Anthropology, University of Oxford, 'All of the social and human sciences have been transformed by transnational scholarship. This has yielded new perspectives on issues from migration to religion to the role of corporations. And it has made it imperative for students and scholars to become familiar with work from several disciplines. Professors Khagram and Levitt have made a valuable contribution by bringing together so many informative and influential texts and helping readers gain an overview of these exciting lines of work.' - Craig Calhoun, President, Social Science Research Council'Drawing on sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science, this book shows conclusively that good theory demands attention to transnational perspectives. Through articles on social phenomena as diverse as capitalism, religion, class, and art, the book proves that this approach is essential to understanding our increasingly transnational world.' - Sally Engle Merry, New York University, USA'Few subjects are as critical in world affairs as how the forces of integration are smacking into reassertions of the particular. This book sheds considerable light on this intersection, and helps to illuminate core dilemmas of policy and cultural cohabitation on our small planet today.'- John G. Ruggie, Harvard University, USA

Dr. Sanjeev Khagram Lindenberg Center Director and Associate Professor of Public Affairs and International Studies at the University of Washington. He is also Co-Director of the Transnational Studies Initiative and Global Action Networks-Net. He was previously Acting Dean of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre and a faculty member at Harvard's JFK School of Government. He published Dams and Development in 2004 with Cornell University.Peggy Levitt is Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology at Wellesley College and a Research Fellow at The Weatherhead Center and The Hauser Center at Harvard University where she co-directs The Transnational Studies Initiative. Her new book, God Needs No Passport: Immigrants and the Changing American Religious Landscape was published in Spring 2007.