The Senegalese Trade Fields in Paris
Senegalese immigrants’ enterprises are often analyzed as ethnic businesses, mourid brotherhood networks or transnational networks. Researchers who take these approaches focus on cultural resources or solidarity among ethnic groups. In this paper, the central concept is that of “trade field”, which I look at in spatial terms. This notion allows us to take into account struggles to occupy space, hierarchy, competition and other issues that are not addressed in analyses focused on “ethnic business”, “mouridology” and transnational perspectives. With this conceptual tool, I seek to demonstrate the existence of territories and interstitial commerce that are not open to all comers. In these spaces, ethnic and brotherhood affiliations are but several of the resources that are mobilized by actors according to their spatial, relational and economic capital.