Date of Award

5-2020

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Global Governance and Human Security

First Advisor

Rita Edozie

Second Advisor

Winston Langley

Third Advisor

Jeffrey Pugh

Abstract

Through the structures and processes associated with globalization, many migrants and their descendants (Diasporas) engage in economic, political and social development activities in their origin countries while remaining productive members of their host countries. This is the basis of the migration-development nexus, which refers to the interconnections between international migration and the socio-political and economic development of nation-states. In the last three decades, there has been a global proliferation of policies, laws, and other institutional arrangements established in origin countries to increase the participation of Diasporas in development beyond the remittances that they might send back to their families. Despite a rich interdisciplinary body of literature on the migration-development nexus, scholars have paid relatively little attention to its governance dimensions. This dissertation research contributes to filling that gap. This study aims to elucidate how the migration-development nexus can be better governed to maximize development benefits form voluntary international migration for nation-states while safeguarding the interests and wellbeing of Diasporas/international migrants.

Drawing upon post-national governance theory and policy discourses, I examine how and why political actors, policy design, and the networked interactions between institutions involved in the migration-development nexus impact Diaspora investments in Global South origin countries. The methods used in this dissertation include a multi-country comparative analysis. Eighteen normative or ‘best practice’ indicators are used to analyze the different ways thirty key origin states have expanded their capacities to attract, regularize and formalize Diaspora investments and involvement in development. This is followed by an in-depth case study on one of those origin countries substantiated by a two-population public opinion survey, a social network analysis (SNA) of 115 institutions, and a United Nations-based human security analysis of state policy.

The findings of this research indicate that to foster better governance of the migration-development nexus, governments, international organizations and other relevant authorities must work to resolve power imbalances and competing interests among political actors, significantly increase collaboration with migrant/Diaspora organizations in development policymaking, strengthen technological infrastructure to facilitate State-Diaspora relations, and expand the political and social rights of Diasporas through post-national forms of citizenship. The findings of this research might assist scholars, policymakers and development practitioners create more holistic, equitable, dignified and human rights-based global migration governance frameworks. Meanwhile, further deepening the conceptualization of migration governance as an international development policy issue.

Comments

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