[EN]
THEMIS -
Theorizing
the Evolution of European Migration Systems
Project Summary
One of the central problems for migration theory is the separation
between theories that are (a) concerned with explaining the
initiation or ‘root causes’ of migration and (b) those that aim to
explain why, once started, migration processes tend to gain their
own momentum due to network and other internal dynamics, leading to
the establishment of migration systems. A related problem is the
inability of current theory to explain why many initial migration
moves do not set in motion self-reinforcing migration dynamics. By
sampling on the dependent variable, empirical work typically ignores
the counterfactual cases, in which pioneer movements do not evolve
into full-blown migration systems. Current theories also fail to
explain adequately the stagnation and weakening of established
migration systems.
In order to fill these theoretical and empirical gaps, this project
will explore the conditions under which initial moves by pioneer
migrants to Europe result in the formation of migration systems and
the conditions under which this does not happen. This will be
achieved through (1) a substantially improved theorization of
migration system dynamics by integrating theories on the initiation
and continuation of migration and (2) a comparative, multi-sited,
and longitudinal study of the evolution of heterogeneous migrant
groups following different settlement trajectories from a range of
origin countries to 8 European cities in the UK, Norway, the
Netherlands and Portugal.
Coordinating Institution:
University of Oxford
Project Personnel
Portuguese
Research Team/Equipa
de investigação
Professor
Maria Lucinda
Fonseca
Dr. Alina Esteves
Dr.
Jennifer McGarrigle
Dr.
Sónia Pereira
Project funded by the the NORFACE Research Programme
on Migration
Go to the
NORFACE website |