The role of migrant networks in global migration governance and development

Abstract

This study reconceptualises migrant networks as small-scale forms of migration governance. Acting as transnational network structures, migrant networks are able to fill some of the gaps in the currently fragmented global migration governance system. This includes addressing common migration governance objectives, such as reducing issues created by criminal networks, decreasing tensions between migrants and host communities, and improving the safety and dignity of migrants. Further, this study aims to discuss relevant migrant-development nexus effects of migrant networks as migration governance structures, in terms of a migrant's individual developments as well as development in both the home and destination countries. Migrant networks have great interest in positive development for individual migrants because it would strengthen the network; the migrant would be better able to support future migrants in addition to members remaining in the home country. Migrant development may also have positive effects for the destination country, through the provision of higher-skilled work, and for the home country, through associated remittances and relevant support for network members in the home country.

Investigating the Effects of Migrant Remittances on the Economic Growth of Cameroon

“…In the first stage, remittances are assumed to be repayments for informal and implicit loans contracted by migrants for investment in education and migration cost. In the second stage, they are loans made by migrants to young relatives to finance their education until they are themselves ready to migrate (Rose Taylor, 2015;Hasan, 2015). In this light, the amount remitted is expected to diminish in aggregated numbers because not all migrants are expected to give a loan to family members.…”

Contested Governance and Sovereignty in the Kerala–Dubai Migration Corridor

“…Chain migration refers to the way through which migrants receive help from relatives or friends in order to migrate. In the absence of being able to sponsor family members, finding work for friends and family is also a way of family reunification for low salaried positions (Shah and Menon 1999;Taylor 2016). According to an International Labour Organization (ILO) study from 2015, 74.5 per cent of surveyed migrant workers in the UAE said they had received help from close relatives to acquire employment.…”

When Does Social Capital Matter for Migration? A Study of Networks, Brokers, and Migrants in Nepal

“…Attention to social capital, the notion that relational social ties via family, friends, and the larger community matter for migration, emerged in the 1970s (Choldin 1973; Banerjee 1983; Taylor 1984; Fawcett 1989). Since that time, increasingly sophisticated and detailed studies (e.g., Curran et al 2005; Garip 2008; Dolfin and Genicot 2010; and Garip and Asad 2016) have left almost no question that migration-specific social capital has a strong influence on migration.…”