http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/41893 Mon, 21 May 2012 18:53:09 GMT 2012-05-21T18:53:09Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/bitstream/id/34827/ http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/41893 http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/182631 Overcoming the ethical dilemmas of skilled migration? An analysis of international narratives on the “brain drain” Levatino, Antonina Migration-related issues have, since approximately 2000, been the object of increased attention at the international level. This has led, among other things, to the production of international narratives, which aim both at understanding migration and at proposing policy recommendations on how to address it, with the objective of improving the governance of migration at the global level. But this implies overcoming dilemmas stemming from the diverging interests of states and other actors (like NGOs and the private sector). This article examines the way in which international migration narratives address skilled migration, which is characterised by some of the clearest political trade-offs between stakeholders. It argues that these narratives attempt to speak to all parties and conciliate contradictory arguments about what should be done, in order to discursively overcome policy dilemmas and create a consensus. While this is line with the mandate of international organizations, it depoliticises migration issues. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/182631 2012-03-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/179308 Immigration controls and the erosion of popular sovereignty Gilligan, Chris The idea that immigration controls in Western developed states are a response to popular pressure is axiomatic in the academic literature on migration. In the academic literature and in policy circles it is also commonplace to hear that migration is eroding the sovereignty of states. This article challenges both of these ideas. We argue that both of these ideas overlook or ignore the erosion of popular sovereignty from within states. We argue that engaging with, rather than evading, public debate on migration can potentially help to reinvigorate popular sovereignty. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/179308 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/172644 The Point system of selection of immigrants in Quebec Franco Guillén, Núria The present paper is aimed at identifying what are the effects of the Point System of Selection of immigrants in Quebec. I defend that the distribution of points results in a different composition of immigrant stocks in terms of origin mix and not in terms of labour skills. To do so, I carry out a longitudinal descriptive analysis on the national composition of immigrants in Quebec and two other significant provinces (Ontario and British Columbia), as well as an analysis of the distribution of points in Quebec and in the rest of Canada. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/172644 2011-11-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/168472 The European Union and refugees: towards more restrictive asylum policies in the European Union? Kaunert, Christian; Léonard, Sarah Several scholars have argued that European countries have decided to cooperate on asylum and migration matters at the EU level in order to develop more restrictive policies. In particular, it has been argued that European states have ‘venue-shopped’ to a new policy-venue in order to escape national constraints. This paper puts this argument to the test by assessing the extent to which the development of EU cooperation on asylum matters has indeed led to the adoption of more restrictive asylum standards. The paper argues that, actually, EU asylum cooperation has led to an overall increase in protection standards for asylum-seekers and refugees. This outcome is explained by two main factors: the increasing ‘judicialisation’ of asylum in the EU and institutional changes in the EU asylum policy area that have strengthened the role of more ‘refugee-friendly’ institutions. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/168472 2011-08-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/151686 Teaching ethnic diversity in journalism school Dijk, Teun Adrianus van, 1943- It has been found that the symbolic elites have a prominent role in the discursive reproduction of racism in society, because they control the public discourse through which many ethnic prejudices are spread and shared. This special position of the mass media requires that the professional education of journalists, also featuring such topics as ethnic studies, diversity and racism, is optimally adapted to the multicultural societies in Europe, North America and Australia. This paper reports about an extensive research project examining ethnic education of journalists in these white-dominated countries, by examining the websites of many journalism and communication departments. Consistent with the general finding that white symbolic elites primarily deny or ignore (their) racism in society, none of the academic programs, anywhere in the world, mentions special classes on racism in the mass media. Finally, a practical proposal is made for a course on ethnic reporting in multicultural societies. Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/151686 2011-05-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/115697 Toleration and the fair terms of engagement with diversity Sardoc, Mitja The aim of this paper is to examine the various controversies over the genuine problems of toleration in a plurally diverse polity as both historically and conceptually, toleration is one of the foundational characteristics that defines the very essence of a plurally diverse polity and the basic virtue associated with a liberal conception of citizenship. In section 1, I present the main philosophical and conceptual issues related to the toleration-based approach to diversity in liberal political theory. In section 2 I identify the conditions and the circumstances of toleration. I articulate in Section 3 the most pressing objections against toleration. I present in section 4 two competing approaches to the toleration-based approach to diversity is faced with. In the concluding section, I outline a modified conception of toleration that mediates between different requirements associated with the two principled commitments of the liberal version of the rights-based conception of citizenship. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/115697 2011-03-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/97189 Gendered networks and Mexican migration Creighton, Mathew; Riosmena, Fernando In this paper, we investigate how the gendered origin of migrant networks (i.e. matrilineal vs. patrilineal) is associated with aspirations to migrate and subsequent migration behavior. Using longitudinal data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS), we follow 3,923 married couples across 139 municipalities over the 2002-2005 period. We find that the networks of both the individual and her/his spouse are associated with aspiring to migrate to the United States. However, one’s own network matters most (i.e. matrilineal networks for women and patrilineal networks for men). On the other hand, in terms of behavior, only matrilineal networks predict a subsequent move to the U.S. for men and women/couples, who are assessed jointly. These findings suggest that our understanding of the role of migrant networks in perpetuating male-centered, labor migration does not necessarily translate once a union has formed. We make the case that future work would do well to account for not only the presence and composition of networks, but also their origin, which in certain circumstances may be the most relevant factor. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/97189 2010-10-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/63986 The externalisation of the asylum function in the European Union Morgades Gil, Sílvia This paper aims to identify and assess the main items in the strategy followed by the EU and its member states on the externalisation of their asylum function. First, it analyses the European harmonisation of the return to safe third countries and to countries of first asylum, which is carried out by means of readmission agreements. Second, it refers to the strategies defined by the Hague and the Stockholm programs concerning the External Aspects of the European Union Asylum Policy, on the detention centres for illegal immigrants abroad, and on the proposals for delocalisation of asylum applications processing centres beyond the EU borders. Finally, this paper considers whether the strategy of externalisation of the function of asylum sometimes lacks legitimacy, and to what extent there is a fair balance between the interests of the states and the protection of the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/63986 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/46734 "¡Mezquita No!: the origins of mosque opposition in Spain Astor, Avi This paper examines why mosque opposition has been more frequent in Catalonia than in other Spanish regions. A comparison is conducted between the metropolitan areas of Barcelona, where opposition has been most prevalent, and Madrid, where it has been strikingly absent. A relational approach is employed to highlight the factors in Barcelona that have complicated the reception of mosques and the populations they serve. These factors include pronounced socio-spatial divisions and a lack of confidence in the state's commitment to managing the challenges that accompany immigration. The prevalence of these factors in Barcelona has resulted in the integration of mosque debates into more general struggles over urban privilege and state recognition, explaining the high degree of opposition. These findings highlight the importance of studying conflicts related to religious and cultural diversification in context, as such conflicts are inextricably linked to the lived spaces and local structures in which they develop. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/46734 2010-03-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/43325 Introducing diversity in public organisations : diminishing theoretical ambiguity and controversy by empirical research Van Ewijk, Anne R. Many theoretical dissertations have an unclear definition of diversity and when interpreting strategies of organizational diversity policies, theories often contradict each other. It is argued that this ambiguity and controversy can be diminished by basing theory on diversity and diversity policy more on qualitative structured descriptive empirical comparisons. This argument is elaborated in two steps. First, diversity is shown to be a social construction: dynamic and plural in nature, dependent on the social-historical context. Second, the common theoretical dichotomy between diversity policy as equal opportunities or as diversity management in shown to be possibly misleading; empirical studies indicate more practical differentiation in types of diversity policy, manifested in public and private organizations. As qualitative comparisons are rare, especially in the European context and especially among public organizations, this article calls for more contributions of this kind and provides an analytical framework to assist scholars in the field of diversity studies. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/43325 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/41897 Temporary and circular labour migration : reassessing established public policies Zapata-Barrero, Ricard; Faúndez García, Rocío; Sánchez Montijano, Elena Today, Temporary Labour Migration is a fundamental course of action promoted by relevant economic and political agents, such as EC, the GCIM, or the OECD. Based on a specific empirical case study of Temporary and Circular Labour Migration in the Catalonian agrarian sector, which has been distinguished as a particularly successful formula, we identify a new area of interest: the emergence of a new empirical migrant category, the Circular Labour Migrant, which remains theoretically unnamed and lacks public recognition. We argue that, until now, there have been two historical phases regarding temporary labour migration: one of total deregulation and another of partial regulation, led by private actors with support from public institutions, and featuring circularity. IN a developed Welfare State context, it would be normatively pertinent to except a step towards a third phase, one involving the institutionalization of this new mobility category through the elaboration of a public policy. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.recercat.cat:80/handle/2072/41897 2009-10-01T00:00:00Z