Transnational History

by Pierre-Yves Saunier

Although some historians have been researching and writing history from a transnational perspective for more than a century, it is only recently that this approach has gained momentum. But what is transnational history? How can a transnational approach be applied to historical study?

Pierre Yves Saunier's dynamic introductory volume conveys the diversity of the developing field of transnational history, and the excitement of doing research in that direction. Saunier surveys the key concepts, methods and theories used by historians, helping students to find their own way in this vibrant area.

Genres: History

193 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2013

Reviews

[Sense of History]

This is a very ‘rich’ book, with all the ins and outs of Transnational History, and with lots of examples. Of course Saunier enthusiastically propagates this new current in the writing of history: “a transnational perspective shows how deeply the national fabric and the local or national political debate are intertwined with issues, actors and processes that cut through what we are used to conceiving as local or national.” (140).

The author considers the own topics, methodology and issues of Transnational History in a very thorough way, a bit too academic to my taste. But at the same time he laudably admonishes some modesty: “writing history in a transnational perspective is no more and no less than an additional lens for the historian’s spectacles. It makes visible some aspects that other lenses do not reveal, but it does not replace the other lenses. It works well for some observations, but is ineffective or even deceptive for others.” (135). There are some issues of course about how this Transnational History relates to other new currents in recent historiography (Connected History, Comparative History and Global/World history), but I’m convinced this will clear itself out in the future. This book is a good introduction.

[Marc Lamot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Transnational historiography, as the word says, transcends the limits of locality, region, nation State and zooms in on the many and complex connections that are hidden by those classic boundaries, such as trade flows, migrations, exchange of ideas (religions) and techniques, and so on. Saunier offers an introduction that is full of examples, but at the same time is pervaded by a tough academic discourse, full of terminology of the social sciences. Thus often very difficult reading, worsened by the horrible layout (or the lack of it). But for those who want to know what this new current in the "global turn" of historiography is, this is recommended reading.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bonus points for quoting Lord of the Rings

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saunier's cautious approach to transnational history is an excellent way of summing up the transnational turn. Rather than trumpet transnational studies as a successful new answer to all of our historical issues, he urges caution in its adoption and traces the intellectual history of historians who have tried, and many have, to write history while de-centering the nation.

[Sebastián Hernández · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro necesario para enseñar las nuevas propuestas historiográficas en que los sujetos de estudio escapan de los límites nacionales. A veces se exagera en ejemplos que solo explican cosas obvias como el hecho de que procesos naturales o ambientales no responden a fronteras políticas.

No deja de ser una buena introducción para quienes recién se inician en la historia.

[Motivaatiokaivo · Rating 1 out of 5]

How can a textbook be this badly written?