By Miggy Cruz
Michael Peter Smith, in his essay, “Transnational Migration
and the Globalization of Grassroots Politics,” discussed globalization through
a transnational perspective, “from below,” includes groups such as
transnational migrants, refugees, and exiles. First, he looked at the effects
of trans-migrants to their respective communities. According to his findings,
trans-migrants are increasingly finding ways to “reterritorialize as a
collective response to displacement and deterritorialization,” (19). Second, he
looked at the more controversial grassroots politics of the way these
transnational migrants are trying to return or recapture their homeland. Here,
the activists used a global platform with a local focus to help them gain
entrance to the homeland.
This article definitely ties in with what we discussed in
class a few weeks ago. Also, this idea of “reterritorialize” relates to the
class’s chosen theme for the anthology, “Homeland Invasion.” However, what I
found most interesting was his discussion and comparison to the way the host
country is trying to suppress, or regulate these changing dynamics of the
global space (22). In the past, a host country would have never hesitated to
let immigrants in because of the high demand of labor, but with changing times,
immigrants became a problem.
Question: What would allow a certain group of transnational
migrants, refugees, or exiles, easier entrance to their “homeland” than another
group? Are there differences in difference ethnic groups?
Sources:
Smith, Michael Peter. “Can You Imagine? Transnational
Migration and the Globalization of Grassroots Politics.” Social Text, No. 39 (Summer 1994), pp.15-33. Print
Scwarz, Willy. “Home: Songs of Immigrants, Refugees, and Exiles,”
Waren Senders and Ealter Quintus, 2001. Image. < https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/home-songs-immigrants-refugees/id159625160>
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