Why Write About Translocality?
“Translocality” has come into vogue. As a catchword, it appears in the writings of scholars from
a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, such as geography (Brickell and Datta 2011b; Castree
2004; Conradson and McKay 2007; Featherstone 2011; 2012b; Steinbrink 2009; Verne
2012), history and area studies (Freitag and von Oppen 2010b; Oakes and Schein 2006b), cultural
studies (Bennett and Peterson 2004; Ma 2002), anthropology (Appadurai 2003; Argenti
and Röschenthaler 2006; Escobar 2001; Gottowik 2010; Greiner 2010; Marion 2005;
Núñez-Madrazo 2007; Peleikis 2003) and development studies (Grillo and Riccio 2004;
Zoomers and Westen 2011). Sometimes, translocality (or translocalism) is merely used as a synonym
for transnationalism. In most cases, however, it is used to build upon and extend insights
from this long-established research tradition. As such, the term usually describes phenomena
involving mobility, migration, circulation and spatial interconnectedness not necessarily limited
to national boundaries. But what can the idea of translocality offer beyond these obvious
similarities? How is it defined by those authors who employ it? Is it merely an extension of
transnationalism, or should it be understood as a theoretical concept in its own right?