Andreea R Torre
Chulalongkorn University, Stockholm Environment Institute Asia Centre, Department Member
- London School of Economics and Political Science, Sociology, Graduate Studentadd
The main aim of Positive Contributions: Being a Refugee in Britain (Sigona and Torre 2006) is to show, through their voices, that refugees and asylum seekers contribute positively to British society, not just in economic terms but also,... more
The main aim of Positive Contributions: Being a Refugee in Britain (Sigona and Torre 2006) is to show, through their voices, that refugees and asylum seekers contribute positively to British society, not just in economic terms but also, and above all, socially and culturally. Giving refugees a voice means creating a space where this voice can be heard – a context where it is possible to retrieve details of a normality that refugees and asylum seekers endlessly build, even in the most adverse of circumstances. The project develops the idea of positive contribution in three main directions: - refugees enrich British society through their presence by multiplying points of view and creating an attitude that is conducive to questioning assumed truths and credos; - their knowledge, skills and resources enhance society as a whole when they become part of the common shared values and culture - forced migration is a result of highly interrelated social and economic processes occurring at glo...
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Gendered experiences in fisheries and coastal resource management are often overlooked. To close some of these knowledge gaps, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) along with International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and... more
Gendered experiences in fisheries and coastal resource management are often overlooked. To close some of these knowledge gaps, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) along with International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) explored drivers of inequality and the constraints imposed on different groups of women in various coastal contexts of South and Southeast Asia.
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Key messages • Governments are introducing new “just transitions” policies to help workers and communities move away from fossil fuels. • Most policies assume that justice goals will be achieved by helping those dependent on coal, oil and... more
Key messages
• Governments are introducing new “just transitions” policies to help workers and
communities move away from fossil fuels.
• Most policies assume that justice goals will be achieved by helping those dependent on coal,
oil and gas move into new roles; however, there is little critical reflection on what justice
means in the context of an energy transition away from fossil fuels.
• There are a number of gaps in current just transition policies when viewed through a justice
lens. For example, no policies contain measures to improve the lives of people currently
marginalized in the energy system.
• Creating just and equitable transition policies requires collecting data on the current
distribution of the harms and benefits of the energy system, and mapping out how this will
change as fossil fuels become a less-prominent part of the energy mix.
• By taking justice considerations into account, transition policies are more likely to limit
social and political resistance, win a broad consensus, and achieve effective implementation.
• Governments are introducing new “just transitions” policies to help workers and
communities move away from fossil fuels.
• Most policies assume that justice goals will be achieved by helping those dependent on coal,
oil and gas move into new roles; however, there is little critical reflection on what justice
means in the context of an energy transition away from fossil fuels.
• There are a number of gaps in current just transition policies when viewed through a justice
lens. For example, no policies contain measures to improve the lives of people currently
marginalized in the energy system.
• Creating just and equitable transition policies requires collecting data on the current
distribution of the harms and benefits of the energy system, and mapping out how this will
change as fossil fuels become a less-prominent part of the energy mix.
• By taking justice considerations into account, transition policies are more likely to limit
social and political resistance, win a broad consensus, and achieve effective implementation.
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Much of the traditional literature on migration in the South Pacific describes Pacific Islands as countries of permanent out-migration directed towards the Rim countries. Yet over the past two decades there has been considerable... more
Much of the traditional literature on migration in the South Pacific describes Pacific Islands as countries of permanent out-migration directed towards the Rim countries. Yet over the past two decades there has been considerable diversification of the routes and patterns of South Pacific mobility. This article, by focusing on emerging mobility trajectories between Pacific Island Countries, ventures into the scarcely studied arena of intra-regional migration with a case study of Nauruan migrant families in Fiji. Conceptually, this research is positioned within the literature on transnationalism. Yet most studies on transnational family migration have focused on ‘South–North’ migration routes; emphasized the impacts of both economic and social remittances on local communities at origin; and identified migratory patterns characterized by family separation, with parents ‘on the move’ and children and older family members ‘left-behind’. This article, which relies on a mix-method approach integrating quantitative data and qualitative information, provides a complementary perspective highlighting the centrality of education as primary driver of the migration process, the pivotal role of children in the construction of transnational social fields and the intersections between institutional structures, self-initiated practices of movement and kinship relations in shaping the family migratory trajectories.
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The last decade has witnessed a large increase in temporary labour migration opportunities available to Pacific islanders through managed mobility schemes for seasonal employment in Australia and New Zealand's agricultural sectors. Far... more
The last decade has witnessed a large increase in temporary labour migration opportunities available to Pacific islanders through managed mobility schemes for seasonal employment in Australia and New Zealand's agricultural sectors. Far from being an isolated attempt to regulate regional labour flows, this has been part and parcel of a global shift towards a migration policy agenda prioritising temporary over permanent admission channels. But is temporary migration what Pacific islanders really want? And is a system that is increasingly focussed on category-specific selection criteria providing equitable opportunities for Pacific women and men? We initiate a reflection on these questions looking at recent New Zealand immigration data. Migration governance in the South Pacific and the " triple-win " mantra Since the 1990s a growing body of evidence showing a positive impact of migration on poverty reduction in migrant-sending countries has fuelled a surge of interest amongst policy-makers in the development potential of labour mobility. Several high-level platforms established under the aegis of the United Nations have advocated for the integration of " managed migration " strategies into the international development agenda. At the national level, both countries of origin and countries of destination have embraced this perspective, attracted by the lure of economic gains from labour mobility and private remittances. This has been accompanied by a revival of temporary labour migration programs-increasingly referred to as " triple win " strategies, whereby migrants, the sending and the receiving countries all allegedly benefit-and a growing emphasis on the selective management of skilled migration as a tool for matching labour demand and supply, and by boosting the economic competitiveness of host countries. The South Pacific region is no exception. On the one hand, the primary feature of immigration policies in Pacific Rim countries such as Australia and New Zealand is a focus on skilled admissions. On the other, and as far as Pacific island countries are concerned, dominant migration policy narratives revolve around schemes for seasonal agricultural work and their possible extension to other sectors of employment. New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) Scheme has been regarded by many as a best practice. Yet migration policies are not neutral and equitable frameworks, as they differently inform, guide and
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The main aim of this research is to discuss experiences, possibilities and obstacles to the political participation of Roma and Sinti in Italy at local level. The ethos of our investigation is set by the principles stated in the OSCE... more
The main aim of this research is to discuss experiences, possibilities and obstacles to the
political participation of Roma and Sinti in Italy at local level. The ethos of our investigation is
set by the principles stated in the OSCE “Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma
and Sinti”, in particular:
Roma and Sinti people have an equal right to participate in public affairs. This includes the
rights to vote, stand for election, participate in public affairs and form political parties without
discrimination.
political participation of Roma and Sinti in Italy at local level. The ethos of our investigation is
set by the principles stated in the OSCE “Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma
and Sinti”, in particular:
Roma and Sinti people have an equal right to participate in public affairs. This includes the
rights to vote, stand for election, participate in public affairs and form political parties without
discrimination.
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This report aims to map out the main policies relating to the position of migrant women in the labour market and wider society in the UK. We consider both broader policies and those specifically aimed at migrants or minority ethnic... more
This report aims to map out the main policies relating to the position of migrant women in the labour
market and wider society in the UK. We consider both broader policies and those specifically aimed at
migrants or minority ethnic groups. We provide an account of policies and their scope, as well as
discussing their effect on our focus group. In addition, we discuss overall policy trends as they form
an important context for understanding more specific policies in the ‘broader’ and ‘migrant specific’
areas respectively.
market and wider society in the UK. We consider both broader policies and those specifically aimed at
migrants or minority ethnic groups. We provide an account of policies and their scope, as well as
discussing their effect on our focus group. In addition, we discuss overall policy trends as they form
an important context for understanding more specific policies in the ‘broader’ and ‘migrant specific’
areas respectively.
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Research Interests:
The decision to focus this research on Romanians working in low-wage jobs followed a series of long conversations with women and men employed in the building industry, domestic services, and catering in different areas of London. What was... more
The decision to focus this research on Romanians
working in low-wage jobs followed a series of
long conversations with women and men
employed in the building industry, domestic
services, and catering in different areas of
London. What was striking in these narratives
was the discrepancy between their accounts and
a wider assumption that migrants coming to
carry out elementary occupations in the
secondary and tertiary (service) sectors1 are poor,
marginal, and uneducated people, who are
pushed towards western European countries by
pure economic intentions. Such images, boosted
by frequent articles in the print media, have
become part and parcel of British perceptions of
migrants arriving from Eastern Europe since the
2004 EU enlargement.
working in low-wage jobs followed a series of
long conversations with women and men
employed in the building industry, domestic
services, and catering in different areas of
London. What was striking in these narratives
was the discrepancy between their accounts and
a wider assumption that migrants coming to
carry out elementary occupations in the
secondary and tertiary (service) sectors1 are poor,
marginal, and uneducated people, who are
pushed towards western European countries by
pure economic intentions. Such images, boosted
by frequent articles in the print media, have
become part and parcel of British perceptions of
migrants arriving from Eastern Europe since the
2004 EU enlargement.
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This chapter develops through a conversation with fellow gender specialists and researchers who have placed gender at the centre of their environment-related studies and policy engagement in the different centres of the Stockholm... more
This chapter develops through a conversation with fellow gender specialists and researchers who have placed gender at the centre of their environment-related studies and policy engagement in the different centres of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) across Asia, Europe and the USA. Marisa Escobar, Andreea R. Torre, Laura Forni, Lisa Segnestam, Ha Nguyen and Emily Ghosh reflect on the challenges of assiduously working for bringing gender in, and keeping it central, to the realms of environmental science, capacity-building activities and policy engagement.
Those challenges are multiple and take place at different scales. They relate to complexities of situated geo-political identities of ‘being a woman scientist’ and to differing disciplinary and professional backgrounds as well as to the nature of work that involves navigating encounters between epistemologically masculine fields which often overlook the micro-scale of human and more specifically women’s experiences. The reflections in this chapter are hence rooted in the never-ending dilemmas about self-identifying and being identified as gender professionals, the ontological and epistemological tensions between natural and social science researchers, as well as the politics and practice of gender work in a historically technical, and increasingly managerialist field.
Those challenges are multiple and take place at different scales. They relate to complexities of situated geo-political identities of ‘being a woman scientist’ and to differing disciplinary and professional backgrounds as well as to the nature of work that involves navigating encounters between epistemologically masculine fields which often overlook the micro-scale of human and more specifically women’s experiences. The reflections in this chapter are hence rooted in the never-ending dilemmas about self-identifying and being identified as gender professionals, the ontological and epistemological tensions between natural and social science researchers, as well as the politics and practice of gender work in a historically technical, and increasingly managerialist field.
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In this chapter, we explore the emergence of new intra-regional migration routes between Pacific countries and how these are contributing to the reconfiguration of the South Pacific migration system. Based on case studies in Fiji and... more
In this chapter, we explore the emergence of new intra-regional migration routes between Pacific countries and how these are contributing to the reconfiguration of the South Pacific migration system. Based on case studies in Fiji and Vanuatu, experiences of transient mobility for the pursuit of education and health care, and short- and long-term mobility of professionals, are here framed within the Pacific regional, sub-regional, and bilateral intergovernmental frameworks and mechanisms.
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In the last 15 years, the number of international migrants has grown rapidly, a trend that will most likely accelerate in years to come. This trend has fueled a surge of interest in the development impacts of international migration for... more
In the last 15 years, the number of international migrants has grown rapidly, a trend that will most likely accelerate in years to come. This trend has fueled a surge of interest in the development impacts of international migration for work. A growing body of research has shed new light on the nature of the migration-development nexus, with emerging evidence showing a positive effect of migration on poverty reduction in migrant-sending countries.3 Yet migrant workers are more than “remittances heroes.” Remittances help families invest in health, education and entrepreneurial activities in origin countries. But migrant workers also contribute to new skills, change cultural norms and patterns of behavior, and convey new values and ideas to their families and communities. More recently, a closer look at the demographic composition of contemporary global migrant populations has also revealed the highly gendered dimension of mobility processes. In many Asian countries, women migrate not only for economic reasons but also to escape physical or psychological violence and abuse. This “feminization of migration” is especially pronounced in the domestic and care sectors of destination labor markets where many female migrant workers find employment. Within the domestic and care sectors, however, the often unregulated nature of reproductive labor, which includes paid domestic work such as care giving and household tasks (i.e. cleaning, cooking, washing, etc.), places migrant women at risk of exploitation in the form of low wages, poor working conditions, and even physical and/ or sexual abuse. This chapter provides an analysis of these quality of work issues with a specific focus on women’s migration for domestic work in the ASEAN region (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). It examines disadvantages inherent in the domestic work sector and the insecurities women migrant workers face at various stages of the migration journey. The first section provides a panoramic view of the flows and trends of women’s migration for work in the ASEAN region. Next, the chapter investigates challenges and vulnerabilities that migrant domestic workers face. Finally, the last section discusses how to reduce domestic workers’ vulnerabilities in countries of origin as well as in host nations so that women migrant workers can achieve their full potential as agents of equitable and sustainable development. Conceptually, our analysis of the migration-development nexus moves beyond the pure economic logic that dominates the migration and development narrative to provide a notion of development that encompasses not only the economic welfare but also the socio-cultural and rights-based well-being of migrants. As such, it also addresses the often disregarded or undervalued human and social capital transfers of migration.
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The Journal of Pacific Studies (JPacS) is a multidisciplinary journal that focuses on development issues. Since development issues are a key concern in the Pacific, the Journal of Pacific Studies focuses on such contemporary concerns. It... more
The Journal of Pacific Studies (JPacS) is a multidisciplinary journal that focuses on development issues. Since development issues are a key concern in the Pacific, the Journal of Pacific Studies focuses on such contemporary concerns. It is a locally generated area studies journal for the South Pacific which gives primary attention to developmental, economic, historical, geographical and political issues with current investigations in The University of the South Pacific (USP) region and beyond. The newly revived JPacS team of editors is from various fields of work who collectively aim towards bolstering research and disseminating knowledge in and about the region. The review process of the journal is 1 to 2 months on average and the articles are currently accepted through e-mails and go through a vigorous reviewing, proofreading and editing process before the final publication is done. The review process includes external reviewers. The journal aims to become the main vehicle through which USP can express its intellectual life and leadership.
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The main aim of Positive Contributions: Being a Refugee in Britain (Sigona and Torre 2006) is to show, through their voices, that refugees and asylum seekers contribute positively to British society, not just in economic terms but also,... more
The main aim of Positive Contributions: Being a Refugee in Britain (Sigona and Torre 2006) is to show, through their voices, that refugees and asylum seekers contribute positively to British society, not just in economic terms but also, and above all, socially and culturally. Giving refugees a voice means creating a space where this voice can be heard – a context where it is possible to retrieve details of a normality that refugees and asylum seekers endlessly build, even in the most adverse of circumstances. The project develops the idea of positive contribution in three main directions:
- refugees enrich British society through their presence by multiplying points of view and creating an attitude that is conducive to questioning assumed truths and credos;
- their knowledge, skills and resources enhance society as a whole when they become part of the common shared values and culture
- forced migration is a result of highly interrelated social and economic processes occurring at global level. As individuals living in ‘our midst’ refugees, asylum seekers and forced migrants bring direct and actual experience of these processes to society.
Photo exhibition: [vimeo http://vimeo.com/19810487]
- refugees enrich British society through their presence by multiplying points of view and creating an attitude that is conducive to questioning assumed truths and credos;
- their knowledge, skills and resources enhance society as a whole when they become part of the common shared values and culture
- forced migration is a result of highly interrelated social and economic processes occurring at global level. As individuals living in ‘our midst’ refugees, asylum seekers and forced migrants bring direct and actual experience of these processes to society.
Photo exhibition: [vimeo http://vimeo.com/19810487]
Research Interests:
The Routledge handbook of gender and environment, edited by Sherilyn MacGregor, Abingdon and New York, NY, Routledge, 2017, 520 pp., £130.00, ISBN: 9780415707749 While gender has long been recognised as important within environmental... more
The Routledge handbook of gender and environment, edited by Sherilyn MacGregor, Abingdon and New York, NY, Routledge, 2017, 520 pp., £130.00, ISBN: 9780415707749
While gender has long been recognised as important within environmental debates, conceptualisations about gender and environment have also dynamically evolved from the mid-1970s. As feminist theories around women and gender have changed, so have those of the women-and-nature nexus, leading to a key debate within ecofeminism and related literatures about whether there is an essential or a contingent relationship between women and natural environments. Edited by MacGregor (2017), scholar of feminist and environmental politics, The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Environment is a thoughtful and expansive work that critically analyses key concepts and frameworks of this transdisciplinary field as well as the history and unfolding debates that have characterized the complex relationships between gender and environment. It is an essential and academically rigorous resource for scholars working on gender and environment issues and it fills a significant gap by providing an excellent reference text for those seeking a broad, yet thorough, introduction to this area of study.
While gender has long been recognised as important within environmental debates, conceptualisations about gender and environment have also dynamically evolved from the mid-1970s. As feminist theories around women and gender have changed, so have those of the women-and-nature nexus, leading to a key debate within ecofeminism and related literatures about whether there is an essential or a contingent relationship between women and natural environments. Edited by MacGregor (2017), scholar of feminist and environmental politics, The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Environment is a thoughtful and expansive work that critically analyses key concepts and frameworks of this transdisciplinary field as well as the history and unfolding debates that have characterized the complex relationships between gender and environment. It is an essential and academically rigorous resource for scholars working on gender and environment issues and it fills a significant gap by providing an excellent reference text for those seeking a broad, yet thorough, introduction to this area of study.