The Limits of Transnationalism

Description

Transnationalism means many things to many people, from crossing physical borders to crossing intellectual ones. The Limits of Transnationalism reassesses the overly optimistic narratives often associated with this malleable term, revealing both the metaphorical and very real obstacles for transnational mobility. Nancy L. Green begins her wide-ranging examination with the story of Frank Gueydan, an early twentieth-century American convicted of manufacturing fake wine in France who complained bitterly that he was neither able to get a fair trial there nor to enlist the help of US officials. Gueydan’s predicament opens the door for a series of inquiries into the past twenty-five years of transnational scholarship, raising questions about the weaknesses of global networks and the slippery nature of citizenship ties for those who try to live transnational lives. The Limits of Transnationalism serves as a cogent reminder of this topic’s complexity, calling for greater attention to be paid to the many bumps in the road. Contents......Page 8 Introduction: The “Transnational Moment” and Its Limits......Page 10 1. Fake Wine and Future Cadaver: The Trials of an American in France......Page 16 2. Old History, New Historiography......Page 42 3. Expatriation: The Obverse of Transnationalism......Page 65 4. On States and Exit: Letting People Go...with Gritted Teeth......Page 92 5. “Au secours”: Individuals Betwixt and Between......Page 118 Conclusion: It’s Not as Easy as It Looks......Page 148 Acknowledgments......Page 154 Notes......Page 156 Bibliography......Page 192 Index......Page 222