Transnational Involvement: Reading Quantitative Studies in Light of Qualitative Data

Abstract

Studies of migrant transnationalism are dominated by qualitative case studies. To take the field further, there is a need for more quantitative studies and for connecting quantitative and qualitative studies through a reiterative feedback loop. In order to contribute to this, we take two refined and original quantitative studies, one by Snel et al. and one by Portes et al., as a vantage point, commenting on the authors' organization of analytical categories and their operationalization of key concepts, in light of our own, qualitative data. These data come from a research project, EUMARGINS, where we analyze processes of inclusion and exclusion of young adult immigrants and descendants in seven European countries, using participant observation and life-story interviews in combination with statistical data. We conclude that the process whereby young migrants identify themselves in terms of ethnicity and belonging is context-specific, multidimensional, and hard to study quantitatively.

Mexican Youth in Canada: A Political Economy Analysis of Motivations for Immigration, Labour Market Integration, and Transnational Practices

“…Other transnational activities are political, such as reading newspapers, keeping in touch with politics, lobbying the authorities of one country to influence its policies, acquiring membership in political associations or parties in two or more different countries, electoral participation (either as voters or as candidates), giving or raising money for political parties, organizations, or social movements, or participating in political campaigns or rallies and nation-building itself (Levitt and Jaworsky 2007;Paasche and Fangen 2012). Overall, transnational practices are shaped by immigrants' social and economic status, gender, ethnicity/race, politico-economic contexts, and processes of integration in countries of exit and reception (Goldring et al 2003:7).…”