Globalizations from below: understanding the spatialities, mobilities and resources of transnational migrant entrepreneurs across the globe

Globalizations, vol. 21, pp. 421–436

Abstract

Transnational corporations have been long recognized as the building blocks of global system theory and their impact is widely acknowledged and studied. By comparison, we have insufficient understanding of transnational practices ‘from below’. We argue that focusing on transnational migrant entrepreneurship is a novel opportunity to gain insights into the social and economic processes of ‘globalization from below’. Such processes refer to the dynamics and practices initiated by actors outside the hegemonic socio-economic spheres who, using various resources, move people, goods and ideas across national borders to create small-scale enterprises thus connecting distant places and people around the world. This special issue brings together a transdisciplinary group of researchers who examine the spatialities, mobilities and resources of transnational migrant entrepreneurs in Asia, Europe, North Africa, South America and the USA. The rich empirical base, coupled with diverse research methods, provides new insights into the phenomenon to scholars, policymakers and practitioners.

Authors 5

1. Yvonne Riaño corresponding

   nccr – on the move · University of Neuchâtel

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Neuchatel

   Institute of Geography and nccr - on the move, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland

2. Natasha Alexandra Webster

   Stockholm University · Örebro University

   Affiliation as printed

   Örebro University and Stockholm University

   Department of Human Geography, Örebro University and Stockholm University, Örebro, Sweden

3. Laure Sandoz

   University of Neuchâtel · University of Lausanne

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Neuchatel and University of Lausanne

   LIVES Center, University of Neuchatel and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

4. Giacomo Solano

   Radboud University Nijmegen

   Affiliation as printed

   Radboud University

   Department of Economics and Business Economics, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

5. Sakura Yamamura Aachen Department of Human Geography

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University

   Department of Human Geography, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany