Apresentado em XI Annual Conference of Project Metropolis International“Paths & Crossroads: moving people, changing places”

O CEsA não confirma nem infirma quaisquer opiniões expressas pelos autores nos documentos que edita. We propose a reflection on the role that the Capeverdean immigrant associations have towards the intensification of transnational practices in the Capeverdean community. We consider that transnationalism as a characteristic per excellence of the contemporary Capeverdean migration creates a change in the goal set by associations which are traditionally involved either by defending the origin of the identity or by social inclusion from the place of destiny. In the area of studies conducted on Capeverdean transnationalism interest has been raised especially towards the intensification of emigrants ’ connections with their origins. Malheiros, for instance, points out that the constant “coming and going ” that characterizes transnationalism becomes more intense starting from Lisbon and Rotterdam which are the most important starting points of this circulatory movement followed by the United States of America, particularly Boston. (Malheiros, 2001). However, more recent studies have been pointing to transnational spaces connecting different cores of the Capeverdean Diaspora between themselves. On this essay, we refer to the people’s mobility between European countries among the Schengen space whose intensity is considered secondary but which indicates that the relational frame within the transnational space evolves into more complex forms of contact and interaction. Immigrants have been circulating for economic and relational reasons not just from Lisbon and Rotterdam but also from countries like France, Belgium