Transnationalism in retirement migration: the case of North European retirees in Spain

Abstract Most studies of migrant transnationalism have investigated the migration of workers or refugees. This paper examines to what extent and in what ways transnationalism is present in another form of migration – retirement migration from northern Europe to Spain. Relatively strong transnational characteristics are observed with regard to mobility, identities, social networks and cultural practices, whereas political transnationalism is much less developed and economic transnationalism is rather indirect. This general pattern, as well as the specific expressions of transnationalism that are found, reflects, in important respects, the migrants’ position as retirees. The paper discusses some implications of these findings for research on transnationalism and on international retirement migration. It also suggests a number of analytical dimensions of transnationalism that may be useful in other comparative studies.