James Johnson

Thesis title: Transnationalism and migrant organizations: an analysis of collective action in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area

Thesis abstract:The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze concepts of transnationalism and collective action in reference to migrant organizations in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area. In particular, the study addresses the following questions: What is “transnational” about the collective action of migrant organizations in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area and what is the nature of such cross-border linkages and identities in reference to the local environment in which they are located? What is the relationship between “transnational collective action” and the multiple contexts in which migrant organizations are embedded and how do certain migrant organizations utilize transnational discourses to further their collective interests? How is the concept of integration understood as a discourse used by migrant organizations through a transnational perspective? Specifically, I argue that collective action is often understood and manifested within the local context of the Johannesburg/Pretoria area in which migrant organizations have developed in response to conditions in contemporary South African cities while some organizations maintain connections to countries of origin through collective transnational linkages, identities, and discourses. Second, while certain migrant organizations utilize transnational discourses to further common interests within and across national borders, such transnational collective action is affected by the multiple contexts in which the organizations are located. Third, certain migrant organizations employ a discursive strategy of integration with local and national social relations and systems not only to maximize perceived opportunities and minimize perceived risks in host countries but also countries of origin through a concept of “transnational integration.”