Remittance as Belonging

"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 communities of origin."

"A major contribution to the sociology of migration, economic sociology, and transnational studies. Its methodological rigour, conceptual nuance, and ethnographic depth mark it as essential reading for scholars seeking to move beyond instrumentalist or overly culturalist accounts of remittance. By situating remittance within the moral, emotional, and structural terrain of migrant life, Mahmud transforms what has often been treated as a technical question of flows into a profound meditation on care, obligation, and the making of home. In Mahmud's hands, remittance is not just money; it becomes a vessel for the stories migrants tell about who they are, where they belong, and how they endure."

"Remittance as Belonging, filled with compelling vignettes and stories about Bangladeshi lived experiences in Tokyo and Los Angeles, offers a fresh theoretical perspective on remittances, showing that remittances are not just a form of transnational practice but an expression of a common struggle to make home across borders. The work makes a distinctive contribution to the burgeoning literature on migration and development."

"Stories of Bangladeshi migrant men sending money home to family reveal how remittances change over life stages. They can signal belonging and care but can also lead to fracture and discord. An interesting read."