Skip to main content
Log in

Minority elite formation in transnational perspective: A plea for a research program, illustrated by two Dutch cases

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of International Migration and Integration / Revue de l'integration et de la migration internationale Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since the 1950s nation-state building theories have dominated the debate on immigration in Europe and in the United States. The incorporation processes of “uprooted” immigrants into a new society are traditionally explained in terms of assimilaton or (ethnic) pluralization. Only recently has a new concept of transational migration been emerging. Following work done previously by Basch and Faist, in this article it is tentatively argued: (a) that cultural transnationalization among immigrants is as important as political and economic transnationalization; and (b) that political opportunity structures in the nation of residence facilitate not only cultural transnationalization, but also the formation of transnational cultural elites. These propositions are illustrated by the rise and expansion of Surinam Dutch soccer stardom and by the rise of a transnational Turkish/Moroccan Dutch Islam and of Turkish/Moroccan Dutch religious (Islamic) leadership.

Résumé

Depuis les années 1950, les théories de l'édification des nations ont dominé le débat sur l'immigration en Europe et aux États-Unis. L'intégration d'immigrants “déracinés» dans une nouvelle société est traditionnellement expliquée par l'assimilation ou par la pluralisation ethnique. Ce n'est que récemment que le nouveau concept de la migration transnationale a vu le jour. Dans la foulée des travaux antérieurs de Basch et Faist, l'auteur tente de faire valoir: (a) que la transnationalisation culturelle chez les immigrants est aussi importante que la transnationalisation politique et économique, et (b) que les structures des possibilités politiques dans le pays de résidence facilitent non seulement la transnationalisation culturelle mais aussi la création d'élites culturelles transnationales. Ces propositions sont illustrées par la montée du vedettariat des joueurs de soccer surinamais-hollandais et par la montée d'un Islam transnational turc/marocain-hollandais et d'un leadership (islamique) religieux turc/marocain-hollandais.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amiraux, V. (1998) Transnationalism as a resource for Turkish Islamic Associations in Germany. Florence: European University Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagley, C. (1973). The Dutch plural society: A comparative study in race relations. London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottenburg, M., & Schuyt, K. (1996). De maatschappelijke betekenis van sport. Nederlands Olympisch Comité/Nederlands Sport Federatie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottomore, T. (1979). Political sociology. Minneapolis, MS: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottomore, T. (1993). Elites and society, London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P. (1983). Distinction. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P. (1991). Sport and social class. In C Mikerji & M. Schudson (Eds.), Rethinking popular culture (pp. 357–373). Berkeley, CA: University of Berkeley Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castles, S., & Kosack, G. (1973). Immigrant workers and class structure in Western Europe. London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Swaan, A. (1995). De sociologische studie van de transnationale samenleving. Amsterdams Sociologisch Tijdschrift, 22(1), 16–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Swaan, A. (1998). Volgende les: De Amsterdamse sociale wetenschap na 50 jaar. Amsterdam: Vossiuspers AUP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domhoff, G.W. (1983). Who rules America now? Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domhoff, G.W. (1998). Who rules America. Power and politics in the year 2000. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dronkers, J., Schijf, H., van Wolput, B., & Rupp, J.C.C. (1996). University degree as gateway to Dutch elites 1815–1960. Netherlands Journal of Social Sciences, 32(2), 81–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faist, T. (2000a). Transnationalization in international migration: Implications for the study of citizenship and culture. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 23(2), 189–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faist, T. (2000b). The volume and dynamics of international migration and transnational social spaces. Oxford University Press.

  • Fasseur, C. (1993). De Indologen. Ambtenaren voor de Oost [1825–1950]. Den Haag Bert Bakker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frijhoff, W.T.M. (1981). La société néerlandaise et ses gradués 1575–1814. Amsterdam: APA-Holland University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giddens, A. (1973). The class structure of the advanced societies. London: Hutchinson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glazer, N., & Moynihan, D.P. (1963). Beyond the melting pot. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., & Szanton Blanc, C. (1992). Towards a transnational perspective on migration: Race, class, ethnicity, and nationalism reconsidered. New York Academy of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., & Szanton Blanc, C. (1995). From immigrant to transmigrant: Theorizing transnational migration. Anthropological Quarterly. 68(1), 48–63, 48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, M.M. (1964). Assimilation in American life. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handlin, O. (1951). The uprooted. Boston MA: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollinger, D.A. (1995). Postethnic America. Beyond multiculturalism. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoogerwerf, A. (1997). Elites in de democratie. Alphen aan den Riin: Samson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam in Nederland. Special Issue. (1997). Migrantenstudies, 13(2).

  • Kriesi, H., Koopmans, R., Duyvendak, J.W., & Guigni, M. (1995). New social movements in Western Europe. Minneapolis, MS: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landmann, N. (1997). Imamopleiding in Nederland: Kansen en knelpunten. Ministerie van onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschappen.

  • Rath, J., Penninx, R., Groenendijk, K., & Meyer, A. (1996). Nederland en zijn islam Hoe een ontzuilende samenleving reageert op een “nieuwe” geloofsgemeenschap. Amsterdam: het Spinhuis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rupp, J.C.C. (1997). Rethinking cultural and economic capital. In J.R. Hall (Ed.), Reworking class (pp. 221–241) Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rupp, J.C.C. (1997). Van oude en nieuwe universiteiten. De verdringing van Duitse door Amerikaanse invloeden op de wetenschapsbeoefening en het hoger onderwijs in Nederland, 1945–1995. Serie Nederlandse cultuur in Europese context, nr 8. Den Haag: Sdu Uitgevers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rupp, J.C.C. (1999). The cultural foundations of democracy. The struggle between a religious and a secular intellectual reform movement in the American age of conformity. In D.K. Adams & C.A. van Minnen (Eds.), Secular and religious reform movements in American history. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samen sporten, heel apart, Special issue. (1997). Contrast, 4(23/24).

  • Schijf, B., & Tillie, J. (1998, June). Dutch administrative and political elites between 1870 and 1990. Paper presented to the Minority Elite Formation Conference, ASSR, Amsterdam.

  • Shadid, W.R., & Koningsveld, P. (Eds.), (1996). Muslims in the margin: Political responses to the presence of Islam in Western Europe. Kampen: Kok Pharos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soysal, Y.N. (1994). Limits of citizenship. Migrants and postnational membership in Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soysal, Y.N. (1997). Citizenship and claims-making: Organized Islam in European public spheres. Theory and Society.

  • Sunier, T. (1996). Islam in beweging. Amsterdam: het Spinhuis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takati, R. (1993). A different mirror: a history of multicultural America. Boston MA: Little Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, H. (2000). Het Surinaamse legioen. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Conserve.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, B.S. (1991). Religion and social theory. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, B.S. (1994). Orientalism, postmodernism and globalism. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Veer, P. (1995). Modern oriëntalisme. Amsterdam: Meulenhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright Mills, C. (1956). The power elite. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zweigenhaft, R.L., & Domhoff, G.W. (1982). Jews in the Protestant establishment. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zweigenhaft, R.L., & Domhoff, G.W. (1991). Blacks in the white establishment? New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rupp, J.C.C. Minority elite formation in transnational perspective: A plea for a research program, illustrated by two Dutch cases. Int. Migration & Integration 2, 187–205 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-001-1027-7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-001-1027-7

Key words

Mots-clefs

Navigation