Transnationalism: A New Framework To Study International Migration--Theoretical Exploration And Case Study Of Chinese Americans

Different from previous studies which concentrate on the assimilation and multi-culturalism, applying prescriptive rather than descriptive approaches, migrants now are considered as a community participating actively in transnational activities, and therefore, the study of new phenomenon-transnationalism emerges.Based on scholars' study, the paper starts with a literature review of transnationalism, bringing along its connotation and theoretical base. Given thetransnational analytical lens to study transnational migration, the methodologyis put forward to proceed the framework mainly in socio-economic and cultural sphere. Then the study of transnaitionalism of international migration is brought under the light of globalization, exploring the new stretch in globalcontext.With regard to the impact of transnationalism toward migration, the diluting border and nation-state are not highlighted; instead, taking Chinese American community as a case study, the triangular relation is explored among Chinese Americans, the United States as a host land and China as a homeland. The conclusion drawn from above is that transnational resources are the international bases for the community development and transnational movements are attached tightly to homeland. It is flowing and changing, yet still demands firm combination of local networks as well as international sources. It is a new trend, emerging now and still will be striving forward.