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A Conceptual and Empirical Critique of ‘Social Remittances’: Iraqi Kurdish Migrants Narrate Resistance

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Migration and Social Remittances in a Global Europe

Part of the book series: Europe in a Global Context ((EGC))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on instances where migrants actively desire to make a social transfer, but mostly report that they cannot. The author suggests that the distinction between aspiration and ability usefully draws attention to the opportunity structure of migrants who view themselves as potential but not necessarily actual agents of change. This distinction is explored in light of how migrants relate to corruption in the country of origin. Empirically, this analysis is based primarily on 72 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Iraqi Kurdish returnees from the United Kingdom and Norway back in Iraqi Kurdistan. The analysis allows for a critical re-examination of the concept of social remittances, and for a less celebratory account of migrants’ role in the globalization of cultural politics.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014 (last accessed 29 February 2016).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway

    Erlend Paasche

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  1. Erlend Paasche
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Magdalena Nowicka

  2. Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Vojin Šerbedžija

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Paasche, E. (2016). A Conceptual and Empirical Critique of ‘Social Remittances’: Iraqi Kurdish Migrants Narrate Resistance. In: Nowicka, M., Šerbedžija, V. (eds) Migration and Social Remittances in a Global Europe. Europe in a Global Context. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60126-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60126-1_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-60125-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-60126-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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