Schier’s analyses—based on empirical findings on intra-communal, transregional, and transnational multi-local middle-class families in Germany-contribute to linking the research strands on transnational and multi-local families. The chapter starts with a comprehensive discussion of research on spatially scattered families. Presenting her own empirical findings, Schier draws attention to five challenges common to diverse forms of multi-local family organisation—regardless of scale, conditions of development, and family structure. Nevertheless, the comparison of intra-communal, transregional, and transnational multi-local families uncovers the significance of multiple situatedness across diverse spatial levels. Research results call for further research on the significance of multiple territorial involvements, different patterns of spacing and timing, and the relevance of different family structures to the performance of multi-local daily family life.
DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-52099-9_3