Transnational Families in Turbulent Times

This volume examines how transnational families navigate the turbulent times that increasingly shape family life across borders. Drawing on research from over twenty European countries, it explores the lived realities of families who organise relationships, care and responsibilities across borders amid shifting migration regimes, legal uncertainty and political and institutional transformations. The book employs a multi-scalar analytical framework, integrating macro-level policy analyses, meso-level institutional perspectives, and micro-level family practices. It bridges sociology, social work, anthropology, linguistics, political science, and policy analysis to examine cross-border family dynamics from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Chapters span diverse European contexts, addressing globally relevant themes including war, climate-related displacement, family reunification, digital communication and care, and welfare transformations. The volume advances debates on transnational family life through the concept of turbulence, highlighting how disruptions and uncertainties become interconnected across places, institutions and family relationships, while offering empirical insights into how families navigate changing and uncertain circumstances. This essential resource targets researchers, educators and advanced students in migration studies, family sociology, social policy and transnationalism. It will also serve postgraduate courses on transnational families, migration and social work. Finally, it provides insights for policymakers and practitioners by highlighting institutional barriers and proposing family-sensitive approaches to migration and welfare policy.