An arbitrary outcome: political and economic regulation of mobile labour

02/18/13 • 28 min

Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS)

Hannah Cross, University of Manchester, gives a talk for the COMPAS Seminar Series Michaelmas term 2012: Migration Journeys on 25th October 2012. The field of migration studies has tended to explore the causes and outcomes of migration to the neglect of the conditions and practice of movement itself. The literature has looked at what drives migration and the decision to move, and placed emphasis on what happens afterwards in terms of integration, exclusion and so on. What happens 'in between' this 'before and after' - migrants' journeys - has received much less analytical attention, in contrast to the quite extensive literary, biographical and film exploration of such journeys. In this seminar series we aim to address how journeys are shaped by means of travel, borders, smugglers/agents/brokers, networks, social media, social support during journeys, age/gender/generation, class/resources/social capital/wealth/power, law/legal constraints, personal security/danger/risk. The series will explore fruitful ways in which journeys may be approached analytically. Does the so-called mobilities paradigm offer insights here? Can journeys usefully be analysed in terms of structure and agency? How do class, gender, generation and other social cleavages and power relations shape journeys? How can the risks and dangers encountered by migrants en route be addressed? These and other approaches will be drawn upon in the series to deepen our understanding of migrant journeys.

Previous Episode

What do highly skilled French migrants in London teach us about European talent migration?

Drawing on qualitative data from an ESRC-funded project, this presentation will explore the nature and dynamics of intra-EU talent migration through a particular focus on the French highly-skilled working in London's financial and business sectors. Specifically, it will explore French accounts of London as a place of opportunity, where talent is both recognised and rewarded, in some contradistinction to Paris and France. It will examine French accounts of the different and more meritocratic ways in which talent is calibrated in London, and of the underlying characteristics of London that make this recognition and reward of talent possible. More information about this work can be found at http://frenchlondon.co.uk/

Next Episode

The smuggling of migrants and refugees into Europe: social and economic aspects

Thanos Maroukis talks about the social processes at play behind the migrant smuggling business. Based on his recently published book Thanos talks the audience throughout he methodology, theoretical framework and findings. The field of migration studies has tended to explore the causes and outcomes of migration to the neglect of the conditions and practice of movement itself. The literature has looked at what drives migration and the decision to move, and placed emphasis on what happens afterwards in terms of integration, exclusion and so on. What happens 'in between' this 'before and after' - migrants' journeys - has received much less analytical attention, in contrast to the quite extensive literary, biographical and film exploration of such journeys. In this seminar series we aim to address how journeys are shaped by means of travel, borders, smugglers/agents/brokers, networks, social media, social support during journeys, age/gender/generation, class/resources/social capital/wealth/power, law/legal constraints, personal security/danger/risk. The series will explore fruitful ways in which journeys may be approached analytically. Does the so-called mobilities paradigm offer insights here? Can journeys usefully be analysed in terms of structure and agency? How do class, gender, generation and other social cleavages and power relations shape journeys? How can the risks and dangers encountered by migrants en route be addressed? These and other approaches will be drawn upon in the series to deepen our understanding of migrant journeys.