Whitaker Ideas Forum – Diasporic links and on-going transnational relationships in migration and return

The concepts of diaspora and transnationalism have attracted critical attention in a range of academic disciplines in recent decades, as part of attaining better understanding of increased migration and the links between source and destination areas (Bauböck and Faist, 2010). Both concepts have been invoked as explanatory frameworks in the context of return migration and further research in different geographical contexts is advocated. This paper is designed to make a contribution in the context of migration and return using evidence from some 200 returned Irish emigrants. The contested meanings of diasporic population movements and the roles of on-going transnational relationships in contemporary voluntary migration and return are discussed. The Irish evidence points to the influence of political and socio-cultural capital, arising from historic migration, in supporting more recent movement to particular destinations and the roles of on-going transnational connectivity in both migration and return. Flows between places must be understood also in the context of the personal and family circumstances of the migrant and broader political and economic circumstances in source and host areas at different points in time.

Bauböck, R. and Faist, T. (eds.) (2010). Diaspora and transnationalism: concepts, theories and methods. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

This is one of a series of seminars in the Whitaker Ideas Forum. Mary will be representing the Population and Migration research cluster.

The Whitaker Ideas Forum is a weekly seminar, running Wednesday’s throughout the semester from 1:00pm-2:00pm in CA110. It provides the opportunity for members of the Institute to showcase their research. The result are presentations that highlight the diversity of the research being undertaken, while allowing for an opportunity to engage in discussions and, sometimes, collaboration with attendees. Below, you will find a list of this semester’s seminars, please click the title for more information on that seminar.