“Brasiguaio” identity in the making: how spatial, institutional and social interactions impact on the transnational communities across the borders of Brazil and Paraguay

Denise Marques, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Dimitri Fazito, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Roberto Nascimento Rodrigues, Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional (CEDEPLAR)
Weber Soares, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Since 1980, from continuous human displacements across the borders of Brazil and Paraguay, a supposed transnational community has taken place under the “controversial” label of “Brasiguaios” (Brazilian born immigrants in Paraguay and their children, the 2nd and 3rd generations returned to Brazil). Is there any transnational identity among the complex communities of international migrants in the region? In this study, based on qualitative and quantitative research of the Brazilian international migration, we investigate how spatial, institutional and social interactions influence the organization of the transnational community and the self-identification process of “circular” migrants. Spatial structures can prevent or improve social networks (residents in the “dry” border towns have more preferential international ties than residents in “wet” border towns or more distant ones), such as public institutions (availability of public hospitals, schools and jobs) and specific social interactions (kinship, friendship and co-workers), which will shape the identity and the transnational community.