Le formiche della globalizzazione

In studies on international migrations during the last fifteen years a trend has appeared to be particularly fertile on both sides of the Atlantic: it is the debate on the concept of “transnationalism”. Economic transnationalism is a relevant aspect of these studies. It includes, with remittances, investments and other aspects, entrepreneurial initiatives promoted by immigrants who mobilize their cross-border contacts in search of markets, suppliers and capitals. The paper presents the results of a qualitative research carried out in Northern Italy, concerning various forms of economic activities with different degrees of transnational connections. The results are discussed in the framework of a typology of transnational economic activities, distinguishing circulatory, connective, commercial, symbolic transnationalism.