Both Sides of the Coin : Remittances and the transnational relationship of Somalis

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2012-08-12
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en
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Remittances have been subject to many research from the twentieth century up till now. Particularly in the case of Somalia (or rather the Somalis), billions of dollars go around the world (DFID 2008). Remittances are not neutral amounts however; the amounts are embedded in institutions and are significantly emotional loaded. This basic assumption is used in this research in order to scrutinize remittances, transnational relationships and the shaping of transnational hierarchies. Through conducting a multi-sited research interviewing both the senders and the receivers it will argue against any generalization or dichotomization regarding transnationalism, remittances nor regarding the senders and receivers, emphasizing the fluidity of remittances and the relationships. We will zoom in on the socio-economic position of Somali senders in the Netherlands, on Somali receivers in Kenya, after which the transnational space between these groups will be scrutinized focusing particularly on the institutions and its changing character on a transnational level. Using social networks, and particularly the clan as an important Somali institution, as a basic assumption in this research (transnationalism is never something individual) in both countries as well as between these countries, we will scrutinize monitoring systems and social pressure within these (at times mal-) functioning networks. Moreover, this research explores the dynamics of these relationships and focuses on how institutions guide and monitor control and enforcement mechanisms by looking at trust, distrust and strategies used by both senders and receivers to influence the relationship but also as protective mechanisms. This research will build on a repertoire of discourses and views on remittances and the transnational relationship. As such, this exploratory research has portrayed a broad scope of different relationships, different dynamics and mechanisms after which it will conclude with recommendations for future research to capture the complexity of remittances and transnational relationships.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen