The Migration-Asylum Nexus Definition and significance

1. The Migration-Asylum Nexus Definition and significance Notes from a lecture by Stephen Castles and Nick Van Hear Oxford University, COMPASS, 27 Jan 2005 http://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/

2. What is the 'migration-asylum' nexus • Growing difficulty in separating between forced and economic migration • Closely related causes of forced and economic migration • Increasing similarities in the migratory process for both categories • Common responses: lack of differentiation between asylum seekers and irregular migrants

3. 'Category jumping': Examples • Portuguese workers in France - 1960s Refugees from fascism Use of people smugglers Regularisation as workers If workers are needed, employers and governments don't care if they are refugees • Burmese in Thailand • Acehnese in Malaysia

4. A global problem: forced migration (2003-4) Refugees (1951 Convention definition) 9.7 million (recognised by UNHCR) Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) 25 m (13 m of them in Africa) Development Induced Displacement 10 million a year (World Bank) Environmental change and disasters Numbers unknown

5. Towards a political economy of forced migration • Globalisation: the North-South Gap • Selective inclusion and exclusion in global economy: 'disconnection' • Trade, investment and development • Trade in small arms, conflict diamonds etc. • 'Reconnection' of South and North through ”unwanted' flows and networks • Migration as a form of 'reconnection'

6. The migration-asylum nexus in the South: macro-level • Links between poverty, weak states, human rights abuse and conflict • Complex emergencies lead to many types of displacement • Internal displacement often means impoverishment - and further migration • Conflict prevents development - causes economic migration • Many migrants have multiple motivations

7. Political economy of forced migration in the South: micro level Approaches: Commodity chain analysis Livelihood studies Examples: Conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone Cobalt mining in DR Congo Afghanistan: survival in enduring conflict The role of arms trafficking

8. The MAN in Countries of first asylum and transit Thailand: new industrial country with: labour emigration and immigration refugee inflows Malaysia: Indonesian and Filipino labour - often really refugees Tanzania: less-developed country with: Long-standing and diverse refugee population Strains of long-term support

9. The migration-asylum nexus in the process of mobility • Category jumping as a rational strategy • Policies as 'opportunity structures' • Migration barriers (visas, carrier sanctions, safe third countries, buffer zones) - create demand for the 'migration industry' • The importance of migration networks • Irregular movement may lead to long-term irregularity

10. The nexus between asylum and irregular migration in receiving countries - macro • Deterrent measures create incentives for irregular employment and residence • Irregular entry helps create networks for irregular work and life • Unmet labour demand for low-skilled workers encourages informal sector • Media-driven asylum panic leads to hypocritical asylum policies

11. The micro-level: how does asylum affect local communities? • Local conflicts about asylum centres • Fears of 'cheap labour' in areas of social exclusion • Welfare challenges (e.g. assisting unaccompanied minors) • Destitution as challenge to local authorities • Dispersal, concentration and potential ethnic conflicts

12. Migration from Sri Lanka • Elite/professionals • Students • Refugees and asylum seekers • Labour migration • Family reunion/foundation

13. Tamils in the UK • Post independence 1948: professionals • From 1960s, discrimination and hardening ethnic nationalisms: students • From 198Os: conflict refugees and asylum seekers • 199Os: acceleration of asylum migration • From 2002: decline in asylum migration • Family reunion • From 2000: regrouping/relocation/secondary migration

14. Consequences of the Migration-Asylum Nexus • Diversified migrant populations in host countries • Diversified migrant destinations: diasporisation • Proliferation and diversification of transnational linkages - Households at home have a portfolio of transnational resources - Diaspora households have a portfolio of obligations

15. The future of the migration-asylum nexus • Era of asylum migration to affluent countries drawing to close • Asylum migration to middle income countries? • Other legal channels will continue: limited labour migration, family reunion, high skilled, students ... • Irregular migration will continue • Regrouping: eg movement from continental Europe to the UK • Containment of 'mixed migration' in regions of origin • In- region migration management: sorting migrants in regions of origin • Effects on diaspora formation, transnational links, and the global political economy?