PRIO Network

Transnational Migration and Mobility Conflicts
Led by Jørgen Carling
Jan 2002 - Dec 2007

This project analyses how immigrants' ties with their country of origin are affected by Europe's restrictive immigration policies. When policies restrict continued migration, this might lead to a lack of 'fresh blood' in migrant communities and contribute to distanciation from the society of origin. Furthermore, strong emigration pressure affects the relationship between non-migrants who are eager to come to Europe, and their emigrant relatives who feel socially obliged to help, but have limited opportunities for facilitating immigration. The survival of transnational connections are related to the relationship between migrant generations, and the different generations' attachment to the country of origin.

The questions above are addressed through the case study of migration from Cape Verde to the Netherlands, an accessible and succinct instance of processes affecting numerous sending and receiving countries. The analysis is based on fieldwork in both countries, with semi-structured interviews within family networks as the principal form of data collection. The empirical analysis is used to inform the development of theoretical perspectives on contemporary migration. Existing theories have limited explanatory capacity because they largely fail to incorporate the effects of restrictive immigration policies.

Peer-reviewed-Journal-Article

Carling, Jørgen; & Åkesson, Lisa (2009) Mobility at the Heart of a Nation: Patterns and Meanings of Cape Verdean Migration , International Migration 47(3): 123–155.
Carling, Jørgen (2008) The Human Dynamics of Migrant Transnationalism , Ethnic and Racial Studies 31(8): 1452–1477.
Carling, Jørgen (2008) Toward a Demography of Immigrant Communities and Their Transnational Potential , International Migration Review 42(2): 449–475.
Carling, Jørgen (2004) Emigration, Return and Development in Cape Verde: The Impact of Closing Borders , Population, Space and Place 10(2): 113–132.
Carling, Jørgen (2003) Cartographies of Cape Verdean transnationalism , Global Networks 3(4): 533–539.
Carling, Jørgen (2002) Migration in the age of involuntary immobility: Theoretical reflections and Cape Verdean experiences , Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 28(1): 5–42.

Book Chapter

Carling, Jørgen(2008) Cape Verdeans in the Netherlands Transnational Archipelago. Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora.. : .
Carling, Jørgen; & Batalha, Luís(2008) Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora Transnational Archipelago. Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora. : .
Carling, Jørgen(2007) 'Diaspora', 'Immigration', 'Emigration', 'Population', and 'Remittances' Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cape Verde. : .
Carling, Jørgen(2005) Incorporer certains enseignements des recherches sur la migration dans les politiques des transferts de fonds [Incorporating Insights from Migration Research into Policy on Remittances] Migrations, Transferts De Fonds Et Développement. : OECD(309–316).

Edited Volume

(2008) Transnational Archipelago. Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora. : .

Non-refereed_Journal_Article

Carling, Jørgen (2004) Transnazionalismo "olandese-capoverdiano". Denaro, culture e parentela [Dutch-Cape Verdean Transnationalism. Cash, Culture and Kinship] , Afriche E Orienti 6186–202.

Report External Series

Carling, Jørgen (2005) Gender Dimensions of International Migration, Global Migration Perspectives, 35. : .