Cross-border, cross-ethnic, and transnational networks of a trapped minority: Israeli Arab citizens in Tel Aviv-Jaffa

In this article, I provide a framework for studying the transnational networks of minority members as a political phenomenon. I make two claims. First, it is necessary to take into account the state and its capacity to limit transnational networks if one is to capture, analytically, the full range of such networks. Second, it is important to extend the theoretical framework of transnationalism to include populations other than migrants and to account for networks established by national minority members whose loyalty to the state can be challanged. I offer a typology of networks organized along two major axes - the state in-border-cross-border axis and the ethnic or religious identity axis. These two axes yield different types of in-border and cross-border, intranational and transnational networks. I base these claims on an analysis of four case studies of cross-border and cross-ethnic networks maintained by Israeli Palestinian citizens in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.