Transborder

Transborder refers to the movement of goods from one country to another. In the late 20th century it has also been used to define the transaction of culture, people, and knowledge across international borders between a nation and its diaspora
Lynn Stephen and Transborder
Transborder is a term referenced by author and professor of anthropology, Lynn Stephen in her book “Transborder Lives: Oaxacan Indigenous Migrants in the U.S. and Mexico” to refer to the cross border flows of people, culture and resources between a nation and its diaspora in order to benefit those living in the home country and strengthen social network of the diaspora community. Stephen's research focused on the indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec people who had migrated from Oaxaca, Mexico to California and Oregon. She distinguishes the importance of living transborder lives in contrast to transnational lives for these migrants who are not able to travel freely back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico. It is because of this that creation of imagined communities in the U.S. become necessary in order to sustain the diaspora that has migrated in order to grow the social network that these communities offer to their communities back in Oaxaca.
Being able to travel from nation to nation for the people of Oaxaca has become an important aspect of their lives due to the ever changing modern and economic world movement. Therefore these groups of indigenous people that were once able to survive off their land and trade for goods and move commodities on their own, have now found it to be extremely difficult in such modern times. All in which brings these indigenous people to migrate to the U.S. Once in the U.S. it becomes hard for the migrants to maintain much of their culture and a connection to their homeland which is why the use for transborder communities is so important. Translocal refers to the ties people retain to their communities of origins and to new communities they establish as they migrate in search of work. Those ties are often so strong, and the movement of people back and forth is so great, that in some sense people belong to a single community. Much like translocal the creation of transborder communities, makes life for the people of Oaxaca easier in the U.S. and provides them with a chance to maintain a good relation with their families and friends back home all while being able to educate themselves to help the progression of syncing both cultures and nations into one. Though many people support the groups and organizations that promote modernizing and help the communities of Oaxaca and in the United States, there are still those that believe that the original ways of living should not change with the time and should be kept as a part of tradition and culture.
Transborder communities bring a rich diversification of cultures and values, but also can cause identity issues for the younger generation who are raised in transborder communities experience a process of transculturation, in which they experience and practice the cultures and traditions of their ethnic heritage as well as national heritage and therefore cannot fully identify with either side. However, it is the integration of economic, cultural, political, and social systems across geo-political boundaries that provides the populations of transborder communities with the power to maintain in touch with both nations and give them the identity of binationallity although they legally only have one citizenship. This concept can be further understood through the approach of combining two cultures to produce one single community in imaginary spaces.
Transborder Communities
Oaxaca
Oaxaquenos are part of one of the many transborder communities in the United States. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, San Diego, Ventura County, and North San Francisco have a vast population of Oaxacans who have settled and constructed what transborder communities. These communities become niches where people that have migrated can feel a sense of belonging in an unknown place.
Transborder communities set up fundraisers, organizations, and public works. One of the festivities that Oaxaquenos in California have brought to the United States is the Guelaguetza. By bringing a part of their culture and history these migrants can share their culture with other communities. The ability of these communities to construct space, time and social relationships in more than one place simultaneously leads to a sense of belonging despite international borders separating people.
Europe
Many European nations have found themselves dealing with organized transborder crimes according to Susan L. Woodward, professor of Political Science at CUNY. Organized transborder crime has been seen by the European Union as a security threat and has thus been treated as such. The problem is not only restricted to the organized criminal networks in Europe, but also those criminals who cross international boundaries. Much of the transborder crime occurring in Europe involves human trafficking, illegal drugs, weapons and stolen vehicles.
Transborder Goods
Ellwyn Stoddard professor in the University of Texas at El Paso gives an example of transborder goods. The U.S. transports simple materials to Maquiladoras in Tijuana and other cities in Mexico with the sole purpose of using cheap labor to construct goods that then are sent to the U.S. and sold to countries around the world. The transporting of goods across borders is what defines transborders as the action of a back and forth production.

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