Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5613/rzs.41.3.3
Analytical Dimensions for the Research of Transnational Activities: An Example of Chinese Migrants in Croatia
Simona Kuti
orcid.org/0000-0003-0061-0856
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Saša Božić
orcid.org/0000-0002-3959-6759
; Department of Sociology, University of Zadar, Croatia
Abstract
The concept of transnational social spaces is slowly replacing the concept of transnationalism, which is being criticised as a failed term, due to its conceptual ambiguity, inability to determine the boundaries of the phenomenon that is being dealt with, etc. However, only some cases of migrant transnational ties grow into transnational social spaces, which are very difficult to investigate with limited resources and a limited number of researchers since they require continuous and synchronized observation of daily practices in several international localities. Therefore, the selection of analysis of migrant transnational activities as well as any assessment of their saturation and intensity is a more reliable procedure than assuming and then confirming or discarding the existence of transnational social spaces in a particular case. This paper presents the results of the research of transnational activities of Chinese migrants in Croatia using semi-structured interviews. Dimensions and analytical categories for researching transnational activities are selected from the research on migrant transnationalism, and the results are structured according to the content of activities (economic, social, cultural and political transnational activities). The explanatory power and transferability of the established analytical model, which has so far been used in the research of other migrant groups in other contexts, is assessed through the presentation of transnational activities of Chinese migrants in Croatia.
Keywords
dimensions of transnational activities; transnationalism; Chinese migrants; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
75525
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2011.
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