Publications – Jørgen Carling

Visualizing the transnational connections of China’s most African neighbourhood

The vast literature on transnationalism has primarily been concerned with people, practices, and social fields. Less attention has been devoted to the enigmatic relationship ... [Continue reading]

Scripting remittances: making sense of money transfers in transnational relationships

This article proposes a conceptual framework for studying remittances as social transactions that can take a number of different forms. For the past three decades, the ... [Continue reading]

The role of aspirations in migration

This conceptual paper seeks to engage with migration theory by examining the nature and functions of aspirations in migration processes. I argue that aspirations play a ... [Continue reading]

Review of ‘Survival Migration’

Carling, Jørgen (2014) ‘Review of A. Betts: “Survival Migration”.’ Journal of Modern African Studies, 52(2): 332-333. Survival Migration: Failed ... [Continue reading]

Ensuring the welfare of children who stay when parents migrate

Many children and adolescents remain in their home communities when parents migrate to other countries. A wide range of negative repercussions for children have been ... [Continue reading]

Fathers’ whereabouts and children’s welfare in Malawi

Children’s welfare may be affected by the absence of a parent—be it due to migration, divorce or death. These reasons for absence have largely been addressed separately ... [Continue reading]

Beyond the insider–outsider divide in migration research

This paper engages critically with the insider–outsider divide in research with migrants and advocates a more nuanced and dynamic approach to positionality. In migration ... [Continue reading]

How does conflict in migrants’ country of origin affect remittance-sending?

This article examines how conflict in the country of origin interacts with other factors in shaping migrants’ remittance-sending practices. Our data come from a survey of ... [Continue reading]

Collecting, analysing and presenting migration histories

This chapter addresses the collection, analysis and presentation of migration histories across different methodological approaches. The emphasis will be on the first of these ... [Continue reading]

Central themes in the study of transnational parenthood

This article reviews the emerging literature on transnational parenthood, concentrating on six themes: gender, care arrangements, legislation, class, communication and ... [Continue reading]

Mobility, moralities and motherhood: navigating the contingencies of Cape Verdean lives

In this article we discuss how transnational motherhood is managed and experienced in contexts of uncertainty and conflicting pressures. We propose a conceptual approach and ... [Continue reading]

Migration aspirations in Senegal: Who wants to leave and why does it matter?

International migration from Senegal is long-standing. Even so, the social, economic and political impacts of migration and transnationalism have intensified in recent ... [Continue reading]

Who wants to go to Europe? Results from a large-scale survey on migration aspirations

For every individual who migrates to another country, there are many others that aspire to do the same. Throughout the world, people are becoming increasingly aware of the ... [Continue reading]

The determinants of migrant remittances

This article explores the factors that account for variation in remittance flows. Why do some immigrants send much more money to their country of origin than others? This is ... [Continue reading]

International labour migration: Consequences for countries of origin

In this paper I give an overview of how contemporary international labour migration can affect the country of origin. I do not intend to reach a grand conclusion concerning ... [Continue reading]

Transnational Archipelago. Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora

The island nation of Cape Verde has given rise to a diaspora that spans the four continents of the Atlantic Ocean. Migration has been essential to the island since the birth ... [Continue reading]

Migration in the age of involuntary immobility: Theoretical reflections and Cape Verdean experiences

Our times are characterised by involuntary immobility as much as by large migration flows. The sheer number of people wishing to migrate but not being able to do so indicates ... [Continue reading]

The human dynamics of migrant transnationalism

How is migrant transnationalism shaped by the human dynamics of relationships between migrants and non-migrants? This question is addressed through an analysis of asymmetries ... [Continue reading]

The capacity and desire to remit: comparing local and transnational influences

This article explores the relationship between transnationalism and integration by examining the determinants of remittance-sending practices. We base our analysis on the ... [Continue reading]

Protecting Europe and protecting migrants? Strategies for managing unauthorised migration from Africa

This article addresses the management of unauthorised migration from Africa to Europe. We review eight policy measures and explore how they relate to prominent policy ... [Continue reading]

Beyond “kamikaze migrants”: Risk taking in West African boat migration to Europe

In recent years, tens of thousands of young Africans have left the shores of Senegal and other West African countries in small boats headed for Spain’s Canary Islands. ... [Continue reading]

Gender dimensions of international migration

This paper addresses the question ‘how can or should we understand the gender dimensions of international migration?’ Different approaches are not necessarily ... [Continue reading]