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Democracy on the Move?

The Potential Link Between Circular Migration and Democratization

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Impact of Circular Migration on Human, Political and Civil Rights

Part of the book series: United Nations University Series on Regionalism ((UNSR,volume 12))

Abstract

This chapter argues that circular migration may contribute to transformation in areas that have so far been rarely touched upon in the debate. Besides the transfer of financial remittances and professional skills, political and (un)democratic attitudes and practices may also be diffused through temporary or circular migration. Based on a survey among 1000 Philippine return migrants from six destinations and qualitative research, this chapter shows that at an individual level, the migration experience may have a positive or negative influence on the democratic attitudes of migrants. This effect might be enforced through circular migration, because it provides the migrant with a regular “reality check” in comparing home and destination country. The findings are discussed with reference to a clearly democratic country (Japan), a clearly authoritarian state (Saudi Arabia) and the “special case” of Hong Kong. For policy makers, the case studies allow to draw a conclusion that opens up new vistas: If circular migrants should contribute to the development in their home countries, it is of utmost importance to provide them with opportunities for organizing and political participation while being abroad.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For up-to-date information on the GFMD process see the official website http://gfmd.org/ and the authors’ blog http://gfmd-blog.com

  2. 2.

    This became apparent in several policy meetings attended by the author, among them the conference on “temporary migration – a success story or a myth?”, organised by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on 29 March 2012 in Berlin.

  3. 3.

    This section is based on the findings of the research project ‘Democratisation through Migration?’ conducted between 2005 and 2007 by the Arnold- Bergstraesser Institute Freiburg, Germany, in cooperation with Social Weather Stations (SWS), Quezon City. Funding was provided by the Foundation Population, Migration and Environment, based in Stafa, Switzerland. Project members were Jürgen Ruland, Christl Kessler and the author. Further discussion were conducted in the Freiburg Southeast Asia Area Studies Program, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

  4. 4.

    For a more detailed description of the research design, see Kessler and Rother (2016), Chap. 3.

  5. 5.

    The items were political corruption, crime, trust in police, social security and economic performance. Respondents were asked to assess these issues on a six-point bipolar scale for both the host country and the Philippines.

  6. 6.

    Based on the answers regarding options to abandon Congress and elections and replace them with a strong leader, experts or military government or a ban on the opposition.

  7. 7.

    Items covered were: attended a political meeting, signed a petition, attended a demonstration, contacted media, and ran for public office.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany

    Stefan Rother

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  1. Stefan Rother
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Correspondence to Stefan Rother .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Carlota Solé

  2. Department of Sociology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Sonia Parella

  3. Department of Sociology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Teresa Sordé Martí

  4. United Nations University, UNU-CRIS, Brugge, Belgium

    Sonja Nita

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Rother, S. (2016). Democracy on the Move?. In: Solé, C., Parella, S., Martí, T., Nita, S. (eds) Impact of Circular Migration on Human, Political and Civil Rights. United Nations University Series on Regionalism, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28896-3_10

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