Remittance As Belonging

HASAN MAHMUD is an assistant professor of sociology at Northwestern University in Qatar. He is the coeditor (with Min Zhou) of Beyond Economic Migration: Social, Historical, and Political Factors in U.S. Immigration.

• Introduction:   The Migrant, the Family, and Money1          A Rush to the East: Bangladeshi Migration to Japan2          Narratives of Remittance from Japan3          The American Dream4          Narratives of Remittance from the United States5          Going Global, Coming HomeConclusion:     Why Do Migrants Send Remittances?AcknowledgmentsNotesBibliography  Index

"Remittance as Belonging, filled with compelling vignettes and stories about Bangladeshi lived experiences in Tokyo and Los Angeles, offers a fresh theoretical perspective on remittances, showing that remittances are not just a form of transnational practice but an expression of a common struggle to make home across borders. The work makes a distinctive contribution to the burgeoning literature on migration and development." - Min Zhou (distinguished professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles) "Stories of Bangladeshi migrant men sending money home to family reveal how remittances change over life stages. They can signal belonging and care but can also lead to fracture and discord. An interesting read." - Supriya Singh (author of Money, Migration, and Family: India to Australia) "The book presents a groundbreaking argument: remittances are not merely financial transactions but an expression of migrants' enduring social and emotional ties to their homeland. It offers a nuanced exploration of how migration shapes identities and how migrants maintain a sense of belonging through the act of sending remittance, even when living far from their communities of origin." (Qatar Tribune)