Abstract
Transnationalism was initially proposed as an alternative perspective to the assimilation and integration frameworks, which tend to prioritize the nation-state over transnational mobility. Policy-makers in host societies usually regard transnational migrants’ close linkages with the homeland as a sign of social and political detachment, thus reducing their contributions to the host land. Findings from our research on Chinese new immigrant entrepreneurs in Singapore suggest the simultaneous embeddedness of immigrants into two or more nation-states and geopolitical spheres. However, integration in Singapore and transnational ties with China are not necessarily a zero-sum game. Our evidence suggests that transnationalism and integration have been construed as a mutually reinforcing strategy in new immigrants’ efforts to accumulate economic and social resources in both the host land and the homeland. The formations, characteristics and mechanisms of the dual embeddedness process of new Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs in Singapore are detailed in the article.
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