Skip to main content
Comparative Migration Studies
Download PDF

In Exile and in Touch

Transnational Activities of Refugees in a Comparative Perspective

Comparative Migration Studies volume 2, pages 261–282 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Studying transnational behaviour, i.e. interactions between the sending and receiving countries of international migrants, is especially interesting for refugees given their migration motive and history. Due to the flight, resources are lost and returning to the home country is often not an option; both are factors that might limit transnational behaviour. The central aim of this study is to explain the patterns of transnational behaviour for refugee groups in relation to their integration process. For this we use a large scale dataset (N=3950) which contains information on Somali, Iranian, Iraqi and Afghani refugees in the Netherlands. Along the lines of the ‘resource dependent’ thesis the analyses show that individual capacities, such as employment and Dutch nationality, are of major importance in explaining transnational activities of refugees. Second, this paper shows that the economic and social situation in the origin country should be taken into account for understanding the differences in transnational activities among refugee groups.

References

  • Al-Ali, N., Black, R., & Koser, K. (2001a). The limits to ‘transnationalism’: Bosnian and Eritrean refugees in Europe as emerging transnational communities. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 24, 578–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ali, N., Black, R., & Koser, K. (2001b). Refugees and transnationalism: the experience of Bosnians and Eritreans in Europe. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 27, 615–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alba, R. & Nee, V. (1997). Rethinking assimilation theory for a new era of immigration. International Migration Review, 31, 826–874.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carling, J. (2008). The determinants of migrant remittances. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 24, 581–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carling, J., Erdal, M.B., & Horst, C. (2012). How does conflict in migrants’ country of origin affect remittance-sending? Financial priorities and transnational obligations among Somali and Pakistani in Norway. International Migration Review, 46, 283–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carling, J., & Hoelscher, K. (2013). The capacity and desire to remit: Comparing local and transnational influences. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, DOI:10.1080/1369183X.2013.765657.

  • Clark, K., & Drinkwater, S. (2007). An investigation of household remittances behaviour: Evidence from the United Kingdom. The Manchester School, 75, 717–741.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeSipio, L. (2002). Sending money home.. for now: Remittances and immigrant adaptation in the United States. In: Garza, de la R.O., & Lowell, B.L. Sending Money Home. Hispanic Remittances and Community Development. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz-Briquets, S., & Péréz-López, J. (1997). Refuge remittances: Conceptual issues and the Cuban and Nicaraguan experiences. International Migration Review, 31, 411–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dourleijn, E. (2010). Survey Integratie Nieuwe Groepen 2009: verantwoording van de opzet van een survey onder Afghaanse, Iraanse, Iraakse, Somalische, (kort verblijvende) Poolse en Chinese Nederlanders en een autochtone Nederlandse vergeli kingsgroep. Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dourleijn, E., & Dagevos, J. (2011). Vluchtelingengroepen in Nederland: Over de integratie van Afghaanse, Iraanse, Iraakse en Somalische migranten. Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdal, M.B., & Oeppen, C. (2013). Migrant balancing acts: Understanding the interactions between integration and transnationalism. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, DOI:10.1080/1369183X.2013.765647.

  • Ghorashi, H. (2005). Agents of Change or Passive Victims: The Impact of Welfare States (the Case of the Netherlands) on Refugees. Journal of Refugee Studies, 18, 181–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., & Blanc-Szanton, C. (1992). Towards a Transnational Perspective on Migration. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glick Schiller, N., & Fouron, G. (1998). Transnational lives and national identities: The identity politics of Haitian immigrants. Comparative Urban and Community Research, 6, 130–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen-Zanker, J., & Siegel, M. (2007). The determinants of remittances: A review of the literature. Working paper, Maastricht, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hessels, T. (2000). Somaliers in Nederland. Een profiel. Den Haag: ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hessels, T. (2002). Iraniers in Nederland. Een profiel. Den Haag: ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hessels, T., & Wassie, F. (2003). Afghanen in Nederland. Een profiel. Den Haag: ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horst, C. (2008). The transnational political engagements of refugees: Remittance sending practices amongst Somali in Norway. Conflict, Security & Development, 8, 317–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Itzigsohn, J., & Saucedo, S.G. (2002). Immigrant incorporation and sociocultural transnationalism. International Migration Review, 36, 766–798.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, P.J., & Stoll, K. (2008). Remittance patterns of southern Sudanese refugee men: Enacting the global breadwinner role. Family Relations, 57, 431–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, P., & Jaworsky, B.N. (2007). Transnational migration studies: Past developments and future trends. Annual Review Sociology, 33, 129–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindley, A. (2008). Conflict-induced migration and remittances: exploring conceptual frameworks. Oxford: Refugee Studies Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcelli, E.A., & Lowell, B.L. (2005). Transnational twist: Pecuniary remittances and the socioeconomic integration of authorized and unauthorized Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles County. International Migration Review, 39, 69–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mascini, P., Fermin, A., & Snick, H. (2012). Transnationalism of Burundian refugees in the Netherlands: The importance of migration motives. International Journal of Population Research, DOI:10.1155/2012/962327.

  • Mazzucato, V. (2008). The double engagement: Transnationalism and integration. Ghanaian migrants’ lives between Ghana and the Netherlands. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34, 199–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menjívar, C., Davanzo, J., Greenwell, L., & Valdez, B. (1998). Remittances behavior among Salvadoran and Filipino immigrants in Los Angeles. International Migration Review, 32, 97–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller, P. (2010). Scattered families. Transnational family life of Afghan refugees in the Netherlands in the light of the human rights-based protection of the family. PhD thesis: Utrecht University.

  • Nieuwhof, A., & Mahamoud, A. (2000). Communicatie, sleutel en participatie. De Somalische gemeenschap in Nederland. Den Haag: ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties.

    Google Scholar 

  • Portes, A. (1999). Conclusions: Toward a New World — The Origins and Effects of Transnational Activities. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 22, 464–477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Portes, A., Guarnizo, L.E., & Landolt, P. (1999). The study of transnationalism: pitfalls and promise of an emergent research field. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 22, 217–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Portes, A., Haller, W., & Guarnizo, L.E. (2002). Transnational entrepeneurs: An alternative form of immigrant economic adaptation. American Sociological Review, 67, 278–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sana, M., & Massey, D.S. (2005). Household Composition, Family Migration, and Community Context: Migrant Remittances in Four Countries. Social Science Quarterly, 86, 509–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snel, E., Engbersen, G., & Leerkes, A. (2006). Transnational involvement and social integration. Global Networks, 6, 285–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vertovec, S. (2001). Transnationalism and Identity. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 27, 573–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, L.L. (2007). Transnationalism, active citizenship, and belonging in Canada. International Journal, 63, 79–99.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Linda Bakker (PhD candidate) &  Godfried Engbersen (Professor of Sociology, elected member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW)

  2. Netherlands Institute for Social Research, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Jaco Dagevos (Head of the research group Education, Minorities and Methodology)

Authors
  1. Linda Bakker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Godfried Engbersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jaco Dagevos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Bakker.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bakker, L., Engbersen, G. & Dagevos, J. In Exile and in Touch. CMS 2, 261–282 (2014). https://doi.org/10.5117/CMS2014.3.BAKK

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.5117/CMS2014.3.BAKK

Keywords