Week 4- Elaine Hong

In "Asian on the Rim: Transnational Capital and Local Community in the Making of Contemporary Asia America" by Arif Dirlik, Dirlik discusses two main "consequences" (Dirlik 12) of Asia America rising in economic power. First, the creation of diasporic communities have allowed for nation-state boundaries to stretch across the world. Second, the rise of Asian Pacific "professional and managerial class" (Dirlik 12) returning back to homeland which leads to a weakening of the U.S.

From the tone of his article, Dirlik views transnationalism and diasporic communities in a negative light. The blurring of nation state boundaries by these transnational people takes away from America's economic and scientific power. His article is very U.S centric.

I believe that transnationalism, at its grassroots, is essential and helpful for the development of the human race. Sharing, teamwork, and collaboration are all skills that countries use in order to progress. However, due to capitalistic intentions, many large powerful corporations are in control of globalization. As discussed in class, many of these "higher" businesses go beyond the law and expand with little to no though that their presence could deteriorate a foreign country's economy. They blur these nation state boundaries with no respect and are able to get away with exploitation. For example, the Trans Pacific Partnership allows Nike to exploit workers in other countries.

Though Dirlik's article is very U.S centric, he brings of good points about the shift in transnationalism. However, I do not believe that diasporic communities and transnationalism is necessarily bad, but in current society and how things are run, it may cause more harm than benefits.

How and when can diasporic communities and transnationalism be helpful? Not just to the U.S but other country relations.