Towards a geography of transnational spaces: Indian transnational communities in Australia

Abstract

Abstract Few studies on migrant transnationalism have explicitly adopted a geographical perspective, despite the widespread use of spatial metaphors in the literature and the potential advantages that a geographical approach offers. In this article, the geography of the transnational spaces of Punjabis, Kannadigas and Indo‐Fijians is analysed. Punjabis have constructed complex transnational spaces that are virtually global in scale. Kannadigas are engaged in transnational activities linking their places of residence with south India. Indo‐Fijians have emerged as a regional transnational community stretching across the Pacific Ocean. On the basis of their experiences, a consistent terminology is suggested and a typology of different models of transnational spaces is developed. This typology provides a tool to compare different transnational communities beyond the Indian experience. It can be seen as a preliminary step in the direction of a more theoretical approach that links the geography of migrant transnational spaces with sociological debates on social space.