There are Few Locations Suitable for an Ethnography of a Fictitious Group.

Abstract

This article critically examines some of the most prominent analytical principles in the field of anthropology of migration. The author does this by conducting an ethnographic study among Lebanese migrants now residing in multiple countries. Subsequently, this investigation delves into the concept of multi-sited ethnography and determines that the notion of a separate, physically disconnected site is more beneficial than multi-sited ethnography for studying migrants who share a common culture across several global places. This essay offers its findings and conclusions, as well as analyzing the prevalent usage of the phrase "imagined community" in the field of diasporic studies. According to a prevalent notion, written artistic works that utilize the term "community" frequently lack sufficient empirical data to substantiate the assertion that such a "community" actually exists. The article's last section provides a critical analysis of the commonly accepted belief that the terms "migration" and "mobility" are essentially the same. Contrary to the implied meaning of "mobility," the argument suggests that migrants do not spend a substantial amount of time physically relocating.

Keywords: Migration, mobility, multi-sited ethnography, and the transnational society of Lebanese people