Return mobilities of highly skilled young people to a post-conflict region: the case of Kurdish-British to Kurdistan – Iraq

Keles, Janroj Yilmaz

doi:10.1080/1369183x.2019.1600401

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…In-depth studies on the 1958-1962 cohort of Iraqi Kurds living abroad could be a starting point for further research. A relevant example is the recent work of Keles (2019) examining the return migration of British children of Iraqi Kurdish families who had sought refuge in the United Kingdom by the late 1980s. A study dedicated to those who fled to Iran and beyond during the 1970s and their children is still missing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scars of Conflict in the Population Structure of Iraqi Kurdistan: An Unfortunate Cohort and Its “Fortunate” Survivors

Zeyneloğlu¹,

Aymerich²,

Mzuri³

et al. 2021

Population & Development Rev

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Iraqi Kurdistan over time, probe its origins, and illustrate its effects on the rest of the population while relating these to the historical context of the exodus of the Kurdish resistance in Iraq to Iran in 1975. In addition to heightened mortality, a number of families appear to have sent some of their teenage sons to Iran to avoid their involvement in the conflict as fighters, victims, or both. Their absence has enabled the remaining males of the 1958-1962 cohort to enjoy an advantageous position in the marriage and labor markets, while their corresponding mating partners, the females of the 1963-1967 cohort, were the first generation of Iraqi Kurdish females to pursue education and employment en masse. Illustrating the effect of conflict over demographic structure, we highlight the need for further research into two interrelated aspects: the strategies of mothers to keep their male offspring safe via selective out-migration during conflict, and the resulting emancipation of females due to postconflict male shortage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scars of Conflict in the Population Structure of Iraqi Kurdistan: An Unfortunate Cohort and Its “Fortunate” Survivors

Zeyneloğlu¹,

Aymerich²,

Mzuri³

et al. 2021

Population & Development Rev

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“…Instead of discussing returning home to live there or to change it, her narrative was focused on eventually returning to the homeland to die there. Although stories of fellow diasporans moving back to their home countries and settling down successfully were narrated to me during my field study, it is not very common among the community ( Keles, 2016 ). In addition, some of the attempts at return among diasporic subjects resulted with them moving back or returning to London.…”

Section: The Myth Of Return Among Turkish-speaking Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“Take Me Back to My Homeland Dead or Alive!”: The Myth of Return Among London’s Turkish-Speaking Community

Çakmak

2021

Front. Sociol.

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In classical diaspora literature, the “myth of return” has major significance. It is believed that the “myth of return” is embedded in the minds of immigrants from their arrival. This paper examines post-migration mobilities of the Turkish-speaking community in North London as well as the shift in narratives of homeland among diaspora communities; from the “myth of return” to ritual-like visits or mundane pilgrimages. My ethnographic study analyses the post-migration homeland visiting patterns of the Turkish-speaking community into four categories. I discuss how narratives of episodic homeland visits and the desire to be buried in the homeland have replaced the myth of return.

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“…Conflict-generated diasporas such as the Kurds – those social groups (ethnic and religious) who have been displaced from their homeland to another country where they have established internal and transnational networks to mobilise resources for an eventual home return – constitute a marked type of ethnic networks. Their shared history (feelings of loss and displacement from their homeland and trauma) (Alexander, 2004; Keles, 2019), ethnicity, and subordination, language, cultural and social ties and practices may play a pivotal role in the creation of ethnic solidarity among the diasporas in terms of supporting their co-ethnic members in need. This form of ethnic solidarity is not based on altruism, rather, but it is related to collective trauma, memory and experience and political mobilisation of group members directly which are manifested through empathy, sympathy and solidarity with those who are in need, underpinned by a sense of duty.…”

Section: The Theoretical Contribution Of the Papermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scholars have emphasised the enabling factors of community solidarity discussing the role of the political articulation and mobilisation of the Kurdish diasporas for their homeland that have led to the establishment of strong community organisations, networks, obligations and responsibilities for their co-ethnic groups (Ramanathapillai, 2006; Koinova, 2011; Keles, 2015; Keles, 2019). These articulated experiences have created a diasporic consciousness, responsive politics and mobilised ethnic capital, in which ethnic origin, shared experiences of expulsion and the sense of belonging are constitutive of trust, strong empathy and solidarity (Keles, 2019) with the newly arrived asylum seekers, particularly undocumented migrants. Research has found that geographically displaced diasporas have a powerful sense of obligations and responsibilities towards their co-ethnic group (Koinova, 2011).…”

Section: The Theoretical Contribution Of the Papermentioning

confidence: 99%

Migrants with insecure legal status and access to work: the role of ethnic solidarity networks

Keles¹,

Markova²,

Fatah³

2019

EDI

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Purpose Building upon previous studies on the factors shaping undocumented migrants’ experiences on the host labour markets, the purpose of this paper is to expand the theoretical understanding of labour market participation and ethnic solidarity networks, accounting for the sending context of war and political persecution, and the trajectory to irregularity. Design/methodology/approach This paper extends the understanding of the role of ethnic solidarity networks on the labour market participation of migrants with insecure legal status. It draws on data from a questionnaire survey of 178 Iraqi-Kurdish migrants with insecure legal status, four focus groups and ten expert interviews. Working conditions and sectors of employment are explored alongside strategies for accessing work and the role of ethnic solidarity networks. Findings The analysis of the data provides strong support for the theoretical expectations outlined above, assuming that the conflict-generated diaspora communities display a very distinct solidarity among its members, embedded in a shared history of conflict, persecution and identity struggles. Ethnic solidarity is put to the ultimate test in times of intensified enforcement of employment and immigration law. It stretches to accommodate the risks that employers take to provide work to their insecure co-ethnics, facing the tangible threat of raids, business closure, defamation and colossal fines, to mention but a few. In this context, the authors have defined “stretched solidarity” as a form of support and resource sharing among certain conflict-generated ethnic groups, embedded not only within a shared history of displacement, collective memory and trauma, and shared culture, language, loyalties, obligations and experiences but also in the “reception context”, which may limit ethnic solidarity through restrictive immigration controls. Research limitations/implications The authors recognise the limits of the paper, which are that analysis is mainly based on experiences of the majority of whom were young and male migrants with insecure migration legal status, rather than employers. Social implications This paper has identified the social phenomenon of “stretched solidarity” and has set out a model for understanding its embeddedness within conflict-generated diasporic networks. By drawing together research insights and data on Iraqi-Kurdish migrants with insecure legal status, it addressed the central research question how “unauthorised” migrants get access to the segmented labour market at a time of increased in-border controls in the UK. Originality/value The paper contributes towards an enhanced understanding of the complex phenomenon of “stretched solidarity” and its role in migrants’ gaining access to and maintaining employment in the host labour market. The notion of “stretched solidarity” developed here provides a platform for identifying a number of emerging areas for further empirical study and policy thinking. This requires advanced research not only into the processes of migrants’ access to the host labour market but also into the role of ethnic networks, resources and structures that enable migrants in precarious situations to survive.

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Return mobilities of highly skilled young people to a post-conflict region: the case of Kurdish-British to Kurdistan – Iraq

Abstract: Return mobilities of highly skilled young people to a post-conflict region: the case of Kurdish-British to Kurdistan-Iraq. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. pp. 1-21.

Cited by 4 publications

References 56 publications

Scars of Conflict in the Population Structure of Iraqi Kurdistan: An Unfortunate Cohort and Its “Fortunate” Survivors

Scars of Conflict in the Population Structure of Iraqi Kurdistan: An Unfortunate Cohort and Its “Fortunate” Survivors

“Take Me Back to My Homeland Dead or Alive!”: The Myth of Return Among London’s Turkish-Speaking Community

Migrants with insecure legal status and access to work: the role of ethnic solidarity networks

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