Hasan Mahmud, assistant professor in residence at Northwestern University in Qatar, explores the emotional and social dimensions of migration in his new book, Remittance as Belonging: Global Migration, Transnationalism, and the Quest for Home. Published by Rutgers University Press, the book examines how remittances from migrants reflect a deeper sense of belonging and connection to their homelands.
Drawing from over three years of ethnographic research with Bangladeshi migrants in Tokyo and Los Angeles, the book presents a groundbreaking argument: remittances are not merely financial transactions but an expression of migrants' enduring social and emotional ties to their homeland. It offers a nuanced exploration of how migration shapes identities and how migrants maintain a sense of belonging through the act of sending remittance, even when living far from their origin communities.
Mahmud goes on to explore the human aspects of migration, emphasizing how remittances are not just economic exchanges but emotional investments that sustain connections to family and origin community. By providing significant insights into the transnational lives of Bangladeshi migrants, he examines the socio-economic factors shaping their experiences.
Reflecting on his research journey, Mahmud said, “I learned from Bangladeshi migrants about their remittance stories that did not fit the academic understanding of remittance. Besides, understanding migrant remittance became a personal issue for me as I occasionally sent remittance, which made me unsatisfied and frustrated with the academic discussions about migrant remittance. So, I set out to dig deeper into the field. That’s how my decade-long ethnographic study aiming to understand migrant remittance began.”
“Through this book, I aim to shed light on how migrants from countries like Bangladesh continue to identify with home, not just through their legal documents and cultural practices, but through their financial and emotional investments. Remittance serves as an expression of their identity and connection to their roots, despite the geographic distance.”
He added, “Migration is more than just a movement of people across borders; it’s a complex socio-economic process that transforms both the migrants and their home. I reflected on my own practices of sending money home. My work at Northwestern Qatar is centered on understanding these transformations, and this book is part of that ongoing effort to echo the migrants’ voice and their experiences.”
These themes are at the heart of Northwestern Qatar’s mission to advance knowledge that addresses critical issues focused on the Global South. “As an institution deeply rooted in the Global South, Northwestern Qatar encourages scholarship that addresses the complexities of migration, transnationalism, and belonging," said Mahmud. "Through this book, I aim to shed light on how migrants from countries like Bangladesh continue to identify with home, not just through their legal documents and cultural practices, but through their financial and emotional investments. Remittance serves as an expression of their identity and connection to their roots, despite the geographic distance.”
Mahmud’s academic background and research interests have long focused on migration, identity, and transnationalism. With a PhD in sociology from the University of California Los Angeles and an MA in global studies from Sophia University in Tokyo, his expertise lies in the study of global migration and the ways in which individuals and communities navigate their transnational identities. His research has been published in journals such as Current Sociology, International Migration, and Migration & Development, making him a leading voice in these fields.
Remittance as Belonging is the latest addition to a growing body of faculty scholarship at Northwestern Qatar that centers on the Global South, reflecting the institution's dedication to advancing critical knowledge on the region's most pressing issues.
The book is available through Rutgers University Press. For more information, click here.
