Formation of a transnational enclave in the city of Santiago, Chile

The arrival of Latin American immigrants in Chile has transformed various locations in the city of Santiago. An emblematic case is Plaza de Armas, the historical and foundational center of the city. It is argued that the significant concentration of commercial activities and immigrant everyday practices leads to the creation of a transnational ethnic enclave. The main purpose is to offer an analytic framework describing the recognition, description, and comprehension of the transnational nature that an enclave may acquire. Using the cybercafé as a case study, the author analyzes the social practices, social relations, and materials that circulate within the enclave and beyond its frontiers. She discusses how these three dimensions establish a way of life that permits the construction of the transnational nature of this particular place.