{"title":"The cybernetic border: Drones, technology, and intrusion By Iván Chaar López, Durham: Duke University Press. 2024. pp. 248","authors":"Özgün Erdener Topak","doi":"10.1111/imig.70018","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imig.70018","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144066450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intimacy as a lens on work and migration: Experiences of ethnic performers in southwest China By Jingyu Mao, Bristol, UK: Bristol University Press. 2024. pp. 168","authors":"Oğuz Bulut Kök","doi":"10.1111/imig.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70038","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assisted return programmes across Europe – Mapping an increasingly obscure landscape","authors":"Lukas M. Fuchs","doi":"10.1111/imig.70032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Amidst an increasing popularity of Assisted Return (AR) programmes amongst European states, on the one hand, and criticism pertaining to their voluntary and humanitarian nature, on the other hand, this paper maps AR programmes across Europe. It contains a first comprehensive overview of 45 ongoing AR programmes across 27 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) and outlines their commonalities and specificities along five categories: (1) clarity and reliability of available information, (2) involved actors, (3) targeting, (4) offered support and (5) accountability and empirical knowledge production. The mapping finds relevant differences in programme design according to the centralization and distribution of responsibilities between state actors, IOM and NGOs. Similarly, programmes vary according to their target groups ranging from highly specific (e.g. for victims of trafficking) to those addressing virtually all non-EU citizens. Another marked distinction concerns the labelling as either assisted return or return & reintegration programme, which may be in contrast to the amount, scope and timing of the offered support. The findings and identified knowledge gaps are discussed in relation to relevant literature to contextualize our understanding of the proliferation of AR activities and formulate recommendations for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imig.70032","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143914107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Return governance and diplomacy between Türkiye and Afghanistan","authors":"Zeynep Sahin-Mencutek, Hidayet Sıddıkoğlu, Soner Barthoma","doi":"10.1111/imig.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is growing scholarly and policy interest in understanding how destination and transit countries develop return migration policies and collaborate with origin countries. This study investigates the dynamics, drivers and outcomes of the collaborative process between Turkish and Afghan authorities in governing the return of Afghan migrants. Drawing on the concept of return diplomacy, derived from the broader framework of migration diplomacy—which explores the interplay between cross-border mobility and foreign policymaking—we analyse the bilateral talks and arrangements shaping these returns. Our examination of official documents, news sources, interviews and engagements with key informants reveals that authorities on both sides get involved in return diplomacy by leveraging historical and religious networks, as well as humanitarian diplomacy instruments. The drivers of this process are rooted in the domestic priorities of the Turkish government to manage return flows and the expectations of Afghan authorities and the Taliban for international legitimacy and aid through cooperation. The collaboration reflects a blend of formal and informal relations and practices. The outcomes, however, highlight significant opacity in bilateral negotiations and arrangements. These efforts lack a structured readmission framework and have resulted in record-high coerced returns of Afghan migrants (officially 42,498 in 2022) with minimal monitoring. While not fully representative, this case study provides valuable insights for enhancing theories of migration diplomacy and return governance by underscoring the utility of a decentred approach and emphasis on South-to-South contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imig.70037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143879795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Immigration realities: Challenging common misperceptions By Ernesto Castañeda & Carina Cione, New York: Columbia University Press. 2024. pp. 368","authors":"Recep Baydemir","doi":"10.1111/imig.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70039","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, Selim Reza, Sayed Nurullah Azad, Aziz Ahmed
{"title":"Bounded agency and aspirations: Understanding the motivations for irregular migration from Bangladesh to Europe","authors":"Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, Selim Reza, Sayed Nurullah Azad, Aziz Ahmed","doi":"10.1111/imig.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<p>State in modern times has seen globalization accentuating the phenomena of various types of irregular migration as it has brought about newer opportunities of life and livelihoods across the oceans in hitherto distant lands. Conversely, even though these irregular migrants encounter many obstacles along the route, they risk their lives in the hopes of securing a better future for themselves and their families. However, very few empirical studies have been conducted to examine the key factors that trigger this group's desperation for irregular migration. To fill this gap, this article examines this group's motivations for migration and the decision-making process for such migration by drawing on primary data collected from 100 returnee migrants. It uses Evan's (2002, 2007) ‘Bounded Agency’ and de Haas's (2010) ‘Aspirations-Capabilities Framework’ for exploring the broader spectrum of the phenomenon of irregular migration from Bangladesh to Europe. This article looks at how structural constraints, individual aspirations, and capabilities interact in shaping migration decisions. The findings demonstrate how socio-economic constraints and a lack of legal migration options push migrants to follow dangerous and unorthodox routes in search of better economic possibilities in the contradiction-ridden neoliberal system. The new knowledge contributed by the article, in relation to irregular migration from Bangladesh to Europe, might be relevant to other contexts where irregular migration is a common phenomenon.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in the Gambia","authors":"Omar N. Cham, Florian Trauner, Ilke Adam","doi":"10.1111/imig.70036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70036","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The EU tries to dissuade potential migrants from coming to Europe irregularly. However, can EU-promoted narratives compete with local ones and actually influence migratory decision-making? This article investigates how local migration narratives of potential migrants interrelate with the narratives put forward in EU-funded migration information campaigns. Building upon focus groups and interviews conducted in the Gambia, the article demonstrates that there is a clear mismatch between locally held narratives and the EU-promoted narratives. Contrary to the EU campaigns, the Gambian narratives put to the forefront the opportunities for a positive life change enabled by a person migrating to Europe. An exception has been the issue of risks during a migratory journey featuring strongly in EU campaigns, which correlates with the local narratives. However, information is only one factor influencing migratory decision-making, with more relevant ones being livelihood opportunities and the material and social rewards associated with a successful migration.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Narrative constructions of (non-)return in older migrants","authors":"Ute Karl, Anne Carolina Ramos","doi":"10.1111/imig.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Much research has been carried out on (retirement) return migration, emphasizing the importance of family ties, infrastructure, the healthcare system and social relationships as factors that often boost non-return. Less research, however, has looked at the biographies of older migrants from a phenomenological and social-constructivist approach and how return is part of one's <i>biographical narration</i> and <i>narrative identity</i> in old age. In this article, we address this gap by discussing return and non-return as a <i>tópos</i> that is woven throughout migrants' biographical narrations. We reconstruct how one's narrated life story is told, how socio-historical contexts and discourses are part of older migrants' narratives and how (non-)return appears as part of their lived life and narrative identity. We show that staying or returning is not a simple decision but rather a central theme to which the interviewees refer when giving sense to their life course.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143840584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"‘Going back home to my family and community’: Lived realities of old-age return migrants in Zimbabwe","authors":"Gracsious Maviza, Phillip Thebe, Mandlenkosi Maphosa","doi":"10.1111/imig.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70033","url":null,"abstract":"<p>When Zimbabwean migrants age, they often retire and permanently return to their families in their home country. Before that, they periodically visit home on holidays and for family functions such as weddings, funerals or burials. Otherwise, they spend much of their lives abroad. Following their ‘retirement return’, several dynamics emerge about their reintegration, power dynamics and care needs within their families. To better understand such issues, this paper explores the lived realities of old-age return migrants in Zimbabwe to answer the question: What informs the return and reintegration of old-age migrants in Zimbabwe? We unpack this and other questions using data from in-depth interviews with 10 old-age return migrants, as well as several snapshots from semi-formal and informal conversations with returnees' family members in one of Zimbabwe's mainstay migrant communities in Matabeleland. To fully describe the context in which informants live and perceive their experiences, research findings are complemented by long-term participant observation from the researchers' erstwhile studies and ethnographic knowledge of the study area.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143836468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impacts of COVID-19 on Venezuelan migrants in the Andean corridor","authors":"Julia Kieslinger","doi":"10.1111/imig.70028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70028","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Since 2015, about 7.9 million Venezuelans left their country due to political turmoil, socio-economic instability, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Andean Corridor is the most frequented land route in South America. This article explores Venezuelan migrants' experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic on their journeys. Migrants undertake spatial movements and phases of staying, here conceived of as (im)mobilities. The study draws on crises and lifeworld perspectives, and uses participatory qualitative interviews to address individuals' decision-making under changing life conditions. The findings show that the governments' measures during the pandemic had severe impacts on the migrants, leading to forced (im)mobilization, changing mobility patterns, and means of transport. The informalization of (im)mobilities increased the risk of infection, endangered livelihoods, and resulted in greater exposure to insecurity and violence. The study highlights the need for inclusive, nuanced approaches to crises that acknowledge the voices and experiences of marginalized populations like Venezuelan migrants.</p>","PeriodicalId":48011,"journal":{"name":"International Migration","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imig.70028","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}