Reflections on the transnational turn in United States history: theory and practice

Abstract

This article situates the idea of ‘transnational history’ within the recent historiography of the United States, as both a reaction against and accommodation to the nation-state focus of that historiography. It explains transnational history's specific American development as a broad project of research to contextualize US history and decentre the nation; it explores the conditions of American historical practice that influenced the genesis and growth of this version of transnational history; and it compares the concept with competitor terms such as international history, comparative history, global history, histoire croisée, and trans-border. In the United States, transnational history came to be considered complementary to these concepts in its commitment to render American historiography less parochial, yet, because of its origins, the concept has remained limited in application by period and spatial scope. While the concept retains utility because of its specific research programme to denaturalize the nation, transnational history understood as an exploration of ‘transnational spaces’ opens possibilities for an approach of more general historiographical relevance.

African Canadian Anti-Discrimination Activism and the Transnational Civil Rights Movement, 1945–1965

“…23 This discussion draws on Tyrrell's concept of transnationalism "as framing contexts," according to which history at the local or national level is sometimes best elucidated with a mind to parallel global contexts. 24 "The 'causes' of a particular event might be not purely local," Tyrrell explains, "but instead operate simultaneously on different geographical and temporal scales, namely the local, regional, national, transnational, and global." 25 African Canadian anti-discrimination activism reflected local circumstances, but also took place within an important international environment.…”

“…24 "The 'causes' of a particular event might be not purely local," Tyrrell explains, "but instead operate simultaneously on different geographical and temporal scales, namely the local, regional, national, transnational, and global." 25 African Canadian anti-discrimination activism reflected local circumstances, but also took place within an important international environment. Tyrrell's discussion of transnational history "as patterns of exchange" or "reciprocal processes across boundaries" is also important.…”

“…The transnational interpretation remains relevant, however, for, as Tyrrell notes, "the flow of information and the transnational exchanges that occurred were often unequal, even though they were multilateral and reciprocal." 28 African Canadian protest has a long history -a necessary response to an equally long history of racism. In the first half of the twentieth century, African Canadians could experience discrimination through a combination of de jure and de facto practices.…”

A institucionalização dos estudos Africanos nos Estados Unidos: advento, consolidação e transformações

“…Nevertheless, due to the changes introduced by area studies, there is a flourishing debate about the internationalization of curricula. 16 However, the emergence of area studies was far from exclusively characterized by a positive agenda. In addition to the private financing agencies, area studies were propelled by an actor as fundamental as controversial: the US government.…”

The opposite of Dante’s hell? The transfer of ideas for social housing at international congresses in the 1850s–1860s

“…Historiography about social policy in general and social housing in particular, has often focused on individual cases because of the different pace of industrial and urban development, and is thus dominated by national perspectives (Burnett (1980), Cassiers (1989), Chevallier (2010), Flamand (1989), Guerrand (1967), Heller (1979), Huberty et al (2000), Joos et al (1984), Melling (1980), Plunz (1990), Rodger (1995), Smets (1977), Smit (2010), Stébé (1998), Tarn (1971), Tollet & Janssens (2009), Van der Woud (2010), Wohl (1977), Wright (1985)). However, "transnational" influences also played a vital role in the development of social policy (Bayly et al (2006), Clavin (2010), Heclo (1974), Iriye (2007), Kaisar (2005), Conrad (2011), Patel (2010, Rodgers (1998), Saunier (2008), Tyrell (2010). Moreover, Hu & Manning (2010) contend that international forces conveyed basic ideas while national forces determined the timing and the specifics of the adoption of international models.…”