From Hermano Lejano to Hermano Mayor: the dialectics of Salvadoran transnationalism

Abstract

A dialectical framework is proposed for analysing the economic and political practices associated with immigrant transnationalism. The causes and consequences of the transnational relations sustained by Salvadoran migrants in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, with El Salvador is used to test this proposition. It is argued that the conditions of Salvadorans' exit from their country of origin and of their reception in the US explains their tendency to invest considerable resources in forging and maintaining transnational relations with their places of origin. In turn, the aggregate impact of household-level transnational practices elicit spontaneous and institutional responses from different sectors of Salvadoran society. Based on the case of El Salvador, typologies of transnational economic enterprises and transnational political practices are presented that con rm the high degree to which the maintenance of transnational relations are indispensable to El Salvador and its migrant-citize ns.

Realising the Diversity Dividend: Population Diversity and Urban Economic Development

“…To date, research has focused predominantly upon developing nations and the potential role of diaspora networks in advancing the development process within their homelands, especially in relation to skilled labour migration and financial remittances (Kuznetsov, 2006;Solimano, 2008), At the level of cities, there has been only limited research into the economic role of diaspora networks. Different types of transnational businesses which develop as diaspora communities are established and become embedded, have been identified (Landolt et al, 1999;Pécoud, 2002;Portes et al, 2002). Research has also demonstrated the various ways that diaspora networks support the development of such business activity in terms of providing resources, knowledge and information and markets opportunities (Bagwell, 2008;Kitching et al, 2009;Portes et al, 2002 and link areas of labour supply with demand through informal and formal recruitment and brokerage activities (Poros, 2001).…”

Transnational Entrepreneurship amongst Vietnamese Businesses in London

“…Recognising that transnational entrepreneurship comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes, Landolt et al (1999) developed a typology based on a study of transnational business ventures found within the El Salvadoran immigrant communities of Los Angeles and Washington DC. The typology is based on identifying whether the key production inputs to an enterprise (i.e.…”

Toward an improved understanding of immigrant adaptation and transnational engagement: the case of Cuban Émigrés in the United States

“…Evidence from studies of Dominican and Salvadoran immigrants do suggest that premigration experiences shape new country adaptation and transnational engagement. Only after experiencing homeland economic crises did a significant number of immigrants from these countries send remittances (Menjivar, 2000: 100;Landolt, Autler and Baires, 1999;Itzigsohn, Cabral, Medina and Vázquez, 1999). There also is evidence that diverse waves of immigrants from other countries experiencing social revolutions, namely Vietnam (Shelley, 2001), China (Kuhn, 2008;Pieke, Nyiri, Thuno and Ceccagno, 2004), and Poland (Erdmans 1998), relate differently to their homeland from their new land, with differences traceable to distinctive premigration experiences.…”