The Crucial Meso-Level (Faist) o Structural Individualism: The
more intense the motives of a
Lacanue in Sociological Theories of migrant regarding a specific International Migration goal, the stronger the Theories focus on: expectation that she can fufill o why people move from one her goals by temporary place to another territorial exit, the higher the o the macro- and micro- theories propensity to attribute a high inducing people to migrate preference (value) to exit and The meso level the fewer the constraints o level of analysis between micro- working against the exit, the and macro-, between individuals more likely a potential mover and larger structures will choose the exit option o focuses on social relations or o Decision to migrate depends on ties between individuals in Opportunities and kinship groups, neighborhoods, constraints and formal organizations Information: on o explains what happens in availability of jobs and networks and collectives that housing or induces people to stay, move or transportation which return flows through Dominant Theories of International Migration communication Rational Choice Approach: Between channels (mass media, Preference and Opportunities friends, etc) o Rational Choice: in choosing If social capital can be between two alternative courses transferred abroad; of action, a person is apt to Location specific choose the one for which the capital: territorial perceived value of the result is restriction of certain greater; it is assumed that the assets (ex: doctors actor is able to make rational cannot practice their decisions on the basis of taste or profession in other preference; decisions to move or countries) stay are made by individual or o Rational Choice Theory: does collective actors who weigh the not specify how structural costs and benefits involved opportunities are translated into o Value expectancy model: individual action MM=strength of motivation to Migration-Systems Approach: Between the migrate World System and Networks (4 main P=preferred outcome characteristics) E=expectancy that migration o Decisions to move or stay are will lead to desired outcome made within specific economic, i=preferences (income, status, political and cultural contexts comfort, stimulation, autonomy, that are determined by larger affiliation, exit from oppression) opportunity structures reflected MM=S(i)P(i)E(i) in the family, neighbourhood, o Hesser: added the element of and community opportunities and constraints o Migration systems pose the (O/C); ex: norms, state policies context in which movement when it comes to decision occurs and that it influences making in sending countries actions on whether to stay or move (trade linkages and colinal institutions have to be brought ties explain origin and direction into this analysis.==meso level of international movement) Migration system: two Three Levels of Analysis: Macro-structural, or more places Relational and Individual connected by flows and counterflows of people Characteristics of a Meso-level approach o Using dependency theory and Emphasizes how decisions on moving world systems approach, and staying are made in and between systems theories stressed groups of people rather than by isolated existence of linkages between individuals or groups where economic- countries other than people such politica-cultural structures only come in as colonial ties, flows of goods, as external constraints and opportunities ifnro, ideas which have existed potential migrants and groups always even before migration occurred relate to other social structures along a (ex: European countries, most continuum of degrees of freedom who migrate there are from Internal dynamics of migration can be former colonies) described as self-feeding processes of o Focuses on processes within cumulative causation in ways that migration systems; migration a reinforce existing staying/moving circular, interdependent, patterns; a relational analysis tries to progressively complex, and self- capture the dynamimcs of migration by modifying system instead of the a close analysis of collectives and linear, push-pull, cause effect networks; this implies that migration is notions not simply a straight line interrupted by o Networks external factors instead movers and >It is not people who migrate stayers take advantage of opportunities but networks; migrates are not offered by macro-lelve constraints such “atomistic flies” as demographic, economic and political >Social Networks: homogenous developments sets of ties between three or The Decision-Making Process more actors. Network patterns Social ties and Social capital; connects comprise economic, political macro- and micro level of analysis networks of interaction, and Social Ties collectives such as groups and o Continuing series of associations interpersonal transactions to >Migrant Networks: sets of which participants attach shared interpersonal ties that connect interests, obligations, movers, former movers, ad non understandings, memories and movers in countries of origin forecasts. and destination through social Strong ties ties, be they relations of kinship, o Direct, face-to-face transactions friendship or weak social ties between actors involved; o Flaw (both rational and involve obligations and migration systems): do not substantial emotions; conceptualize social ties of widespread in families, kinship movers and stayers within and communcal organizations families or households or Weak ties networks. Processes within o Indirect relationships that these social units and relations involve no direct or fleeting between them and state contact; narrow set of transactions Social Capital o Resources (info on jobs in destination country, transportation, loans) inherent in patterned social ties that allow individuals to cooperate in networks and allow individuals to pursue their goals o Facilitates cooperation between individual and group actors in creating trust and links individuals to social structures o Created and accumulated in social relations o Forms of social capital In exchange relationships: favors, info, approval, and other valued items are given and received in transactions between movers and facilitators Reciprocity: form of social capital when at least two norms are adhered to : 1)persons help those who have helped them 2) should not harm those who have helped them; trust between members of relevant collectives such as families or households is a very valuable resource upholding reciprocity; Solidarity: unity of wanting and action; ; go with weak ties when individual or collective actors feel closely bound to ethnic, religious and national identities; connected through symbolic ties (transactions based on shared worldviews, understandings, meories)