Visits to the country of origin: how second‐generation British Pakistanis shape transnational identity and maintain power asymmetries

Abstract

In this article, I identify the need for more nuanced approaches to transnational emotional attachment, especially with regard to the second generation. Interviewing second-generation British Pakistanis while on their holidays in Pakistan and comparing the findings with data collected in the UK provides a more realistic exploration of the phenomenon than would have been possible with only narratives collected before and after the trips. In contrast to current utopian views of egalitarian transnationalism negotiated at a personal level, known in the literature as transnationalism from below, I argue that the visits of second-generation British Pakistanis perpetuate global power asymmetries. Furthermore, such visits may help British Pakistanis redefine their identity in relation to Pakistan, the UK and Islam, thus contributing to the formation of a new transnational identity. In the conclusion, I suggest that leisure visits can still carry the potential for important political and economic relations for Pakistan in times of need.

The politics of trans-national belonging: A study of the experiences of second-generation Egyptians during a period of socio-political change in Egypt

“…These acts of boundarymaintenance generate significant costs for the Viet Kieu both economic (they are often over-charged for goods or offered far worse terms when undertaking financial transactions) and psychological (feelings of anger, shame or estrangement). Similar examples can be found in relation to British Sikhs returning to the Indian Punjab (Taylor, 2013) and British Pakistani's in the Mirpur District of Pakistan (Bolognani, 2013). …”

Return Imaginaries and Political Climate: Comparing Thinking About Return Mobilities Among Pakistani Origin Migrants and Descendants in Norway and the UK

“…In our longstanding research engagement with Pakistani migrants and descendants in the UK and Norway (Bolognani 2007(Bolognani , 2014(Bolognani , 2015Erdal 2012Erdal , 2013, we find that a great majority of research participants bring up issues related to the prevalent political climate, regardless of whether or not this is connected with the research question informing the interview. So for instance, in research projects focusing explicitly on transnational ties, such as sending remittances, or on Islamic charity and development efforts, research participants raise issues related to their place in society and about the contingent nature of their belonging in the UK or Norway, regardless of formal citizenship status and of the socio-economic position.…”

“…Yet, among British Pakistanis, who have already borne a third generation, Bolognani (2014) describes how in the midst of public questioning of their loyalty to the UK they cannot help but wonder what it would be like 'back home'. The survival of the expression 'back home', even among those British Pakistanis who have never visited Pakistan, betrays the resilience of the idea of another home, even when their hyphenated label of choice is British Muslim (Bolognani and Statham 2013).…”

‘This is My Home’

“…While among Pakistani migrants' and descendants return migration is not very common, both sustained transnational ties, including transnational marriages, and the idea of the possibility of return, have been found to be significant (see e.g. Bolognani, 2014, Bolognani, 2007, Charsley, 2007, Rytter, 2010.…”