transnationalism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic, Formal
Quick answer
What does “transnationalism” mean?
The extension of social, political, or economic processes across national borders.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The extension of social, political, or economic processes across national borders.
In academic contexts, it refers to the interconnectedness of societies through the flow of people, ideas, and capital beyond nation-states, often linked to globalization and studied in sociology, political science, and migration studies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; spelling and usage are consistent, though British English may use '-ise' verb forms more frequently.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with post-colonial studies in British academia, but generally neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low in both, primarily found in scholarly texts and discussions on global issues.
Grammar
How to Use “transnationalism” in a Sentence
N + of + NP (e.g., transnationalism of capital)N + in + NP (e.g., transnationalism in politics)N + and + N (e.g., transnationalism and migration)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “transnationalism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Companies often transnationalise their workforce to reduce costs.
American English
- Organizations transnationalize their operations to expand globally.
adverb
British English
- The activist group works transnationally to promote human rights.
American English
- They coordinated transnationally to address climate change.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to strategies and operations of multinational corporations that span multiple countries, such as supply chain management.
Academic
Central in disciplines like sociology and political science for analyzing cross-border social phenomena and state sovereignty challenges.
Everyday
Rarely used; may appear in news or discussions about global migration or cultural exchange.
Technical
Specific to fields like migration studies, denoting systematic flows and networks beyond national jurisdictions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “transnationalism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “transnationalism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “transnationalism”
- Mispronouncing with stress on 'nation' instead of the correct stress on 'na' in 'national'.
- Using it as a synonym for 'globalization' without acknowledging its focus on social and political processes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Transnationalism focuses on non-state actors and cross-border social flows, while international relations traditionally centers on state-to-state interactions and diplomacy.
No, it can have drawbacks such as eroding local cultures or exacerbating inequalities, depending on context and perspective.
Yes, through indicators like migration rates, remittance flows, and network analyses in social science research.
Diasporas are central, as they maintain ties across borders, influencing politics, economics, and culture in both home and host countries.
The extension of social, political, or economic processes across national borders.
Transnationalism is usually academic, formal in register.
Transnationalism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtrænzˈnæʃənəlɪzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtrænzˈnæʃənəˌlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Break it down: 'trans-' means across, 'national' relates to nations, and '-ism' indicates a practice or ideology; so, it's the practice of operating across nations.
Conceptual Metaphor
A bridge or network linking disparate national entities, facilitating flow and interaction.
Practice
Quiz
What best describes transnationalism?