transnasjonalt

Transnasjonalt is a term used primarily in the social sciences to describe processes, relations and actors that operate across national borders. It emphasizes connections, flows and networks that extend beyond the authority of a single nation-state, often involving multiple countries and jurisdictions.

In sociology, political science, economics and related fields, transnasjonalt refers to networks and practices that connect actors such as individuals, families, firms, non-governmental organizations and diasporas across borders. Key domains include migration and diaspora politics, transnational commerce and capital, cross-border governance and regulation, and the circulation of culture, media and ideas. The concept highlights how social, economic and political life is intertwined beyond national boundaries.

Transnasjonalt is distinct from related terms. It is not merely multinational activity, which can imply parallel, country-specific operations, nor does it inherently imply supranational authority above states. Instead, transnasjonalt focuses on cross-border linkages, coordination and influence among diverse actors and institutions, often without a single overarching governing body. The concept gained prominence with globalization studies, with scholars such as Saskia Sassen contributing to its development by examining how economic and social life is organized across borders.

Applications of transnasjonalt analysis include studying immigrant networks and homeland politics, global value chains and supply networks, transnational activism and civil society, and cross-border regulatory regimes. Critiques of the term point to its breadth, challenges in measurement, and the risk of obscuring unequal power relations between actors in different countries.