Transnational Social Protection

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In a world where many live, work, study, and retire outside their countries of citizenship, individuals face challenges in securing basic social welfare as states increasingly withdraw from their commitments. Traditional views suggest that access to social protections is limited by citizenship, geographic proximity, and local social networks. However, this perspective is outdated. The dynamics of livelihood, community identification, and citizenship rights have evolved significantly. Today, societies are more diverse, with long-term residents lacking full rights in host countries and citizens living abroad who remain engaged with their homelands. While some professional-class migrants navigate multiple citizenships, many low-skilled and undocumented migrants find themselves marginalized in both their home and host nations. This book explores how these shifts are reshaping social welfare, introducing the concept of Hybrid Transnational Social Protection (HTSP). HTSP can either complement or substitute traditional welfare systems. Migrants and their families often rely on a mix of resources from various sources, including states, markets, NGOs, and social networks. The evolving understanding of rights beyond national citizenship is crucial for aiding individuals in safeguarding themselves across borders. The authors identify four foundational logics of rights: citizenship, personhood/humanity, market, and community, highlighting