Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Working on global migration, transnationalism, involuntary immobility, and research communication.
“Why do people migrate?” is a question that forms the pivot of migration studies, and migration t... more “Why do people migrate?” is a question that forms the pivot of migration studies, and migration theory in particular. But it has hardly found satisfactory answers. In this article, I reapproach the question from an array of diverse angles and provide eight responses. Some are aligned with recent theoretical developments, others unpack long-standing ideas with evolving significance, and still others are fundamentally atheoretical. Together, they show how the question can be answered, how it is being answered—even inadvertently or misleadingly—and what the implications are of answering the question in different ways. These are the responses, which each initiates a discussion: (1) For the reasons under which they are admitted as immigrants; (2) For reasons that are socially legitimate; (3) Because the sum of push and pull factors is in favor of migration; (4) Because they have the aspiration and the ability to do so; (5) Because an opportunity presents itself; (6) Either because they chose to or because they are forced to; (7) Because they see migration as either intrinsically or instrumentally valuable; (8) To lead a normal life. The discussions demonstrate how theoretical, methodological and political dimensions of migration sway the ways in which reasons for migration are understood and represented. “Why do people migrate?” is slippery as a research question, but its indeterminate nature makes it a guiding light for research that navigates a diversity of perspectives with humility and curiosity.
Abstract This article explores the factors that account for variation in remittance flows. Why do... more Abstract This article explores the factors that account for variation in remittance flows. Why do some immigrants send much more money to their country of origin than others? This is a question that, in the aggregate, has implications for national economies and migration-related policy. The analysis departs from the classic studies of remittances and considers how the context of contemporary migration in Europe is likely to affect remittance patterns. Possible influences on remittance-sending are disaggregated into nine domains, and ...
This discussion paper explores the rise of mixed, irregular migration with particular focus on th... more This discussion paper explores the rise of mixed, irregular migration with particular focus on the role of smuggling and trafficking in both facilitating that movement and influencing its impact. It explains the current migration context followed by a discussion and analysis of the smuggling–trafficking nexus. Emerging characteristics of irregular migration suggest that changing realities are challenging the limits of existing terminology and understanding around these activities. Current legal concepts and structures are struggling—and sometimes completely unable—to capture the complexity of what is happening. Migrants are facing increased risks in terms of greater vulnerability and less protection, not least through a shrinking of the asylum space. Understanding migrant smuggling and human trafficking as part of a wider phenomenon within classic economic dynamics of supply and demand is critical to developing migration policy that is not diverted by misuse of terminology and that ...
This article asks how return migration intentions are shaped by ties to the country of residence ... more This article asks how return migration intentions are shaped by ties to the country of residence on the one hand, and ties to the country of origin on the other. We discuss these two sets of ties in terms of immigrant integration and transnationalism, respectively. A central tenet of the study is that, at the individual level, integration and transnationalism are neither related in a predictable way nor independent of each other. In our analysis we take methodological steps that reflect this argument, and introduce an integration–transnationalism matrix. In the empirical analysis we use quantitative survey data (N = 3,053) on ten large immigrant groups in Norway, collected by Statistics Norway in 2005–06. We find that it is the relative strength of integration and transnationalism that is decisive for return migration intentions.
The team of researchers whose work is presented in this book set out to study ‘the evolution of E... more The team of researchers whose work is presented in this book set out to study ‘the evolution of European migration systems’. But it is not possible to observe, measure or interview a migration system. In fact, as noted in the Introduction, the concept was shrouded with doubts and misgivings, even within the research team, and it seemed an elusive candidate for empirical research. The idea of migration systems nevertheless served us well as a guiding star, impelling us to identify the researchable mechanisms that might produce such systems, develop them or cause them to stagnate. The initial challenge was to determine from whom we could collect data in a way that was theoretically meaningful and methodologically feasible. Equally important what could we ask people about in qualitative interviews and surveys that would shed light on our overarching questions about migration systems and expose the workings of feedback mechanisms?
Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media... more Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media coverage and academic publications. The phrase is a cause for concern because it subtly undermines the meaning of ‘migrants’, with negative consequences for policy, analysis, and people on the move.
Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media... more Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media coverage and academic publications. The phrase is a cause for concern because it subtly undermines the meaning of ‘migrants’, with negative consequences for policy, analysis, and people on the move.
Someone who wants to migrate to Europe might encounter a host of obstacles: understanding the leg... more Someone who wants to migrate to Europe might encounter a host of obstacles: understanding the legal requirements, obtaining the necessary documents, paying human smugglers, arranging a place to stay, finding work upon arrival. The relevance of different hurdles, and how hard they are to overcome, differs from person to person. A common element, though, is that receiving help from someone already in Europe can be invaluable.1
This conceptual paper seeks to engage with migration theory by examining the nature and functions... more This conceptual paper seeks to engage with migration theory by examining the nature and functions of aspirations in migration processes. I argue that aspirations play a pivotal role in all migration, but in different ways. Aspirations are elusive, however, both theoretically and empirically. People’s general aspirations in life form part of form part of the background to migration desires; such desires can also be described as migration aspirations, which are the focus of this paper. This conviction that migration is preferable to staying can be understood as an attitude, which helps us raise several epistemological issues. Is the desire to migrate an enduring state of mind, or a context-specific speech act? Do migration aspirations, conceived of as attitudes, comparatively evaluate places, or culturally constructed projects? Does migration have intrinsic value, or is it simply a means to an end? Addressing such questions and relating them to the factors that inhibit or facilitate a...
The battles I refer to can, for the most part be related to a simple question: Who are ‘migrant w... more The battles I refer to can, for the most part be related to a simple question: Who are ‘migrant women’? Let’s leave aside the demographics and socio-economic profiles of women who migrate and focus on the idea of ‘migrant women’. A good place to start is the message that the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) published on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2015. The Director General’s carefully worded message paints a picture that I think is typical in the field of policy and practice: migrant women are strong, yet in need of protection; they are pillars, yet vulnerable; they are leaders, yet need to be empowered.
This paper coined the term 'migration corridor', which has since become a popular... more This paper coined the term 'migration corridor', which has since become a popular concept in empirical analyses of migration. A migration corridor is the hypothetical connection between two places, through which people may or may not migrate. The paper explores the meaning and potential of the concept.
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is a non-profit institute (established in 1959) whose ov... more The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is a non-profit institute (established in 1959) whose overarching purpose is to conduct research on the conditions for peaceful relations between states, groups and people. The institute is independent, international and interdisciplinary, and explores issues related to all facets of peace and conflict. The Migration Research Group at PRIO addresses central theoretical aspects of migration and transnationalism, and the ways in which these phenomena are connected with peace and conflict. The group seeks to understand migration processes, the transna-tional ties created after migration, and their consequences for individuals and societies (www.prio.org/migration). The responsibility and honour for the hypotheses, theories, findings and views expressed in PRIO's publications rests with the authors. The photos that are sources from flickr.com are reproduced in accordance with the CC licenses generously granted by the photographers. The indivi...
“Why do people migrate?” is a question that forms the pivot of migration studies, and migration t... more “Why do people migrate?” is a question that forms the pivot of migration studies, and migration theory in particular. But it has hardly found satisfactory answers. In this article, I reapproach the question from an array of diverse angles and provide eight responses. Some are aligned with recent theoretical developments, others unpack long-standing ideas with evolving significance, and still others are fundamentally atheoretical. Together, they show how the question can be answered, how it is being answered—even inadvertently or misleadingly—and what the implications are of answering the question in different ways. These are the responses, which each initiates a discussion: (1) For the reasons under which they are admitted as immigrants; (2) For reasons that are socially legitimate; (3) Because the sum of push and pull factors is in favor of migration; (4) Because they have the aspiration and the ability to do so; (5) Because an opportunity presents itself; (6) Either because they chose to or because they are forced to; (7) Because they see migration as either intrinsically or instrumentally valuable; (8) To lead a normal life. The discussions demonstrate how theoretical, methodological and political dimensions of migration sway the ways in which reasons for migration are understood and represented. “Why do people migrate?” is slippery as a research question, but its indeterminate nature makes it a guiding light for research that navigates a diversity of perspectives with humility and curiosity.
Abstract This article explores the factors that account for variation in remittance flows. Why do... more Abstract This article explores the factors that account for variation in remittance flows. Why do some immigrants send much more money to their country of origin than others? This is a question that, in the aggregate, has implications for national economies and migration-related policy. The analysis departs from the classic studies of remittances and considers how the context of contemporary migration in Europe is likely to affect remittance patterns. Possible influences on remittance-sending are disaggregated into nine domains, and ...
This discussion paper explores the rise of mixed, irregular migration with particular focus on th... more This discussion paper explores the rise of mixed, irregular migration with particular focus on the role of smuggling and trafficking in both facilitating that movement and influencing its impact. It explains the current migration context followed by a discussion and analysis of the smuggling–trafficking nexus. Emerging characteristics of irregular migration suggest that changing realities are challenging the limits of existing terminology and understanding around these activities. Current legal concepts and structures are struggling—and sometimes completely unable—to capture the complexity of what is happening. Migrants are facing increased risks in terms of greater vulnerability and less protection, not least through a shrinking of the asylum space. Understanding migrant smuggling and human trafficking as part of a wider phenomenon within classic economic dynamics of supply and demand is critical to developing migration policy that is not diverted by misuse of terminology and that ...
This article asks how return migration intentions are shaped by ties to the country of residence ... more This article asks how return migration intentions are shaped by ties to the country of residence on the one hand, and ties to the country of origin on the other. We discuss these two sets of ties in terms of immigrant integration and transnationalism, respectively. A central tenet of the study is that, at the individual level, integration and transnationalism are neither related in a predictable way nor independent of each other. In our analysis we take methodological steps that reflect this argument, and introduce an integration–transnationalism matrix. In the empirical analysis we use quantitative survey data (N = 3,053) on ten large immigrant groups in Norway, collected by Statistics Norway in 2005–06. We find that it is the relative strength of integration and transnationalism that is decisive for return migration intentions.
The team of researchers whose work is presented in this book set out to study ‘the evolution of E... more The team of researchers whose work is presented in this book set out to study ‘the evolution of European migration systems’. But it is not possible to observe, measure or interview a migration system. In fact, as noted in the Introduction, the concept was shrouded with doubts and misgivings, even within the research team, and it seemed an elusive candidate for empirical research. The idea of migration systems nevertheless served us well as a guiding star, impelling us to identify the researchable mechanisms that might produce such systems, develop them or cause them to stagnate. The initial challenge was to determine from whom we could collect data in a way that was theoretically meaningful and methodologically feasible. Equally important what could we ask people about in qualitative interviews and surveys that would shed light on our overarching questions about migration systems and expose the workings of feedback mechanisms?
Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media... more Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media coverage and academic publications. The phrase is a cause for concern because it subtly undermines the meaning of ‘migrants’, with negative consequences for policy, analysis, and people on the move.
Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media... more Since 2015, the phrase ‘refugees and migrants’ has become a mainstay of policy discussions, media coverage and academic publications. The phrase is a cause for concern because it subtly undermines the meaning of ‘migrants’, with negative consequences for policy, analysis, and people on the move.
Someone who wants to migrate to Europe might encounter a host of obstacles: understanding the leg... more Someone who wants to migrate to Europe might encounter a host of obstacles: understanding the legal requirements, obtaining the necessary documents, paying human smugglers, arranging a place to stay, finding work upon arrival. The relevance of different hurdles, and how hard they are to overcome, differs from person to person. A common element, though, is that receiving help from someone already in Europe can be invaluable.1
This conceptual paper seeks to engage with migration theory by examining the nature and functions... more This conceptual paper seeks to engage with migration theory by examining the nature and functions of aspirations in migration processes. I argue that aspirations play a pivotal role in all migration, but in different ways. Aspirations are elusive, however, both theoretically and empirically. People’s general aspirations in life form part of form part of the background to migration desires; such desires can also be described as migration aspirations, which are the focus of this paper. This conviction that migration is preferable to staying can be understood as an attitude, which helps us raise several epistemological issues. Is the desire to migrate an enduring state of mind, or a context-specific speech act? Do migration aspirations, conceived of as attitudes, comparatively evaluate places, or culturally constructed projects? Does migration have intrinsic value, or is it simply a means to an end? Addressing such questions and relating them to the factors that inhibit or facilitate a...
The battles I refer to can, for the most part be related to a simple question: Who are ‘migrant w... more The battles I refer to can, for the most part be related to a simple question: Who are ‘migrant women’? Let’s leave aside the demographics and socio-economic profiles of women who migrate and focus on the idea of ‘migrant women’. A good place to start is the message that the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) published on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2015. The Director General’s carefully worded message paints a picture that I think is typical in the field of policy and practice: migrant women are strong, yet in need of protection; they are pillars, yet vulnerable; they are leaders, yet need to be empowered.
This paper coined the term 'migration corridor', which has since become a popular... more This paper coined the term 'migration corridor', which has since become a popular concept in empirical analyses of migration. A migration corridor is the hypothetical connection between two places, through which people may or may not migrate. The paper explores the meaning and potential of the concept.
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is a non-profit institute (established in 1959) whose ov... more The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is a non-profit institute (established in 1959) whose overarching purpose is to conduct research on the conditions for peaceful relations between states, groups and people. The institute is independent, international and interdisciplinary, and explores issues related to all facets of peace and conflict. The Migration Research Group at PRIO addresses central theoretical aspects of migration and transnationalism, and the ways in which these phenomena are connected with peace and conflict. The group seeks to understand migration processes, the transna-tional ties created after migration, and their consequences for individuals and societies (www.prio.org/migration). The responsibility and honour for the hypotheses, theories, findings and views expressed in PRIO's publications rests with the authors. The photos that are sources from flickr.com are reproduced in accordance with the CC licenses generously granted by the photographers. The indivi...
This course prepares participants for conducting ethnographic fieldwork and using fieldwork data ... more This course prepares participants for conducting ethnographic fieldwork and using fieldwork data in social-science research. By 'fieldwork' we mean data collection through face-to-face interaction with people in their daily lives, using participant observation, interviews, or a combination of the two. The course pays particular attention to the challenges of doing fieldwork in challenging circumstances , such as those that are often encountered in research on peace and conflict, or in the contexts of migration and displacement. The sessions roughly follow the chronology from pre-fieldwork planning to post-fieldwork representation of data, and address both practical and principle concerns at each stage. Discussions of ethical challenges are integrated throughout. Rather than attempting to provide blueprint answers, the course seeks to help participants reflect upon the dilemmas and challenges of fieldwork and make informed decisions for their own research. The three-day course is followed by an optional fourth day dedicated to coding and analysing qualitative data in NVivo. This is designed specifically for participants who already use, or plan to use, NVivo for the analysis of ethnographic data. The purpose is to bridge the gap between (1) the methodological, theoretical, and ethical aspects of ethnography, and (2) the technical use of software.
Taught in Oslo, Norway 19-22 March 2018. Application deadline: 1 February 2018.
This course explores the politics of human mobility, emphasizing theoretical perspectives founded... more This course explores the politics of human mobility, emphasizing theoretical perspectives founded in human geography. The politics of mobility can be understood as the ways in which mobilities shape and are shaped by social relations that involve the production and distribution of power. Recent research on mobilities examines a great diversity of mobile phenomenon, and this course concentrates specifically on the mobility of people. Such mobilities (and immo-bilities) can be explored at multiple scales, including the local, the urban, and the transnational. Mobilities may also be produced through the relations between scales, an issue that will be addressed in this course. By focusing on how mobility relates to power, we seek to explore common theoretical themes that cut across sub-fields such as political geography, urban geography, and the geography of migration and transnationalism.
Panel at the the 7th European Conference on African Studies, Basel, 29 June to 1 July 2017. The d... more Panel at the the 7th European Conference on African Studies, Basel, 29 June to 1 July 2017. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 19 January 2017. All proposals must be made via the online form. Follow the 'propose a paper' link on the panel page: bit.ly/afrmig2017. You will be asked to provide the title of your paper, a short abstract (max 300 characters including spaces), and a long abstract (max 250 words) in either English or French.
We invite abstracts for a session at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference (Royal Geographi... more We invite abstracts for a session at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference (Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers), London, 30 August - 2 September, 2016. In order to submit an abstract (150-200 words) please complete the online form at bit.ly/rgs-ibg-2016 by 3 February 2016.
This is a call for abstracts for a panel at ECAS 2015 (6th European Conference of African Studies... more This is a call for abstracts for a panel at ECAS 2015 (6th European Conference of African Studies), Paris, 8–10 July 2015. Abstracts must be submitted via the conference web site by 9 January 2015 (See details in the full-text call).
Research on young people across Africa has recognized the structural obstacles to establishing a life as socially recognized adults. Men and women are experiencing what Alcinda Honwana in the ECAS 2013 Lugard Lecture described as waithood, a prolonged period of suspension between childhood and adulthood. This panel examines where young adults direct their hopes and efforts in order to escape waithood, or as a reaction to the frustrations it entails. Africanists have referred to waithood as an underlying force in diverse contemporary phenomena, including transnational migration, rebel recruitment, and religious mobilization. And these phenomena are partly related to the shifting faith in education as a path towards independent livelihoods. The notion of a repertoire of strategies, used in the title of this panel, does not indicate that many opportunities are available, or that young people always act strategically. However, it emphasizes the importance of examining agency and encourages a broad approach that spans thematic specialisms. We encourage papers that address question such as the following: How do personal opportunities and desires for social change interact in collective mobilization? What characterizes young people’s discourse about possible strategies for establishing independent adult livelihoods? To what extent can migration, mobilization and education be studied in comparative perspective as pathways out of waithood?
The French Development Agency (AFD) Research Department, the World Bank Development Research Grou... more The French Development Agency (AFD) Research Department, the World Bank Development Research Group (DECRG) and the Center for Global Development (CGD) are jointly organizing the 8th International Conference on “Migration and Development”. The conference is devoted to investigating ways in which international migration affects economic and social change in developing countries. Possible topics include the effects of migration on poverty, inequality, and human capital formation; social networks and migration; diaspora externalities; remittances; brain drain; migration and institutional/technological change.
We invite abstracts for a conference to be held at the Peace Research Institute Oslo 20-21 August... more We invite abstracts for a conference to be held at the Peace Research Institute Oslo 20-21 August 2015. (Deadline for abstracts: 15 April).
The possibility of one day returning to one’s country of origin is a fact of life for international migrants. Some live in fear of deportation; others have a dream about retiring in their native country. This conference addresses the different ways in which migrants think, feel, and act upon the possibility of return. We wish to cover a range of circumstances with different degrees of choice and coercion, recognizing that migrants’ agency always plays a role.
It is a refreshingly simple thought that migration is the combined result of two factors: the asp... more It is a refreshingly simple thought that migration is the combined result of two factors: the aspiration to migrate and the ability to migrate. Without having to resort to overly structural or individualistic explanations, this analytical distinction helps disentangle complex questions around why some people migrate but others do not. Still, aspiration and ability raise their own thorny theoretical and methodological questions. To begin with, what does it mean to have migration aspirations? How can such concepts be objects of empirical research? And is it meaningful to say that individuals possess the ability to migrate if their preference is to stay? The aspiration/ability model was originally proposed in this journal and has since been diversely applied and adapted. In this article, we look back at more than a decade of research to examine a series of theoretical and empirical developments related to the aspiration/ability model and its extensions. We identify two-step approaches as a class of analytical frameworks that share the basic logic of the aspiration/ability model. Covering expansive theoretical, methodological and empirical ground, we seek to lay a foundation for new research on global migration in its diverse forms.
Uploads
Papers by Jørgen Carling
Taught in Oslo, Norway 19-22 March 2018. Application deadline: 1 February 2018.
Research on young people across Africa has recognized the structural obstacles to establishing a life as socially recognized adults. Men and women are experiencing what Alcinda Honwana in the ECAS 2013 Lugard Lecture described as waithood, a prolonged period of suspension between childhood and adulthood. This panel examines where young adults direct their hopes and efforts in order to escape waithood, or as a reaction to the frustrations it entails. Africanists have referred to waithood as an underlying force in diverse contemporary phenomena, including transnational migration, rebel recruitment, and religious mobilization. And these phenomena are partly related to the shifting faith in education as a path towards independent livelihoods. The notion of a repertoire of strategies, used in the title of this panel, does not indicate that many opportunities are available, or that young people always act strategically. However, it emphasizes the importance of examining agency and encourages a broad approach that spans thematic specialisms. We encourage papers that address question such as the following: How do personal opportunities and desires for social change interact in collective mobilization? What characterizes young people’s discourse about possible strategies for establishing independent adult livelihoods? To what extent can migration, mobilization and education be studied in comparative perspective as pathways out of waithood?
The possibility of one day returning to one’s country of origin is a fact of life for international migrants. Some live in fear of deportation; others have a dream about retiring in their native country. This conference addresses the different ways in which migrants think, feel, and act upon the possibility of return. We wish to cover a range of circumstances with different degrees of choice and coercion, recognizing that migrants’ agency always plays a role.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369183X.2017.1384146