This is indicative of the continuing salience of migration in its two major manifestations: (i) economic migration (work) and (ii) forced migration ow­ing to persecution (asylum). Parallel concerns have been expressed by certain UN agencies, INGOs and academics about the side-lining of human rights and, thus, the obstructing of social justice. This means that although this shift in the migration policy debate to focus on international cooperation is primarily concerned with control over entry and exit as well as prevention of irregular migration, broader human rights issues as well as the rights of foreign workers have indeed entered into the discussion and thus, a concern for the basic units of analysis of migration: the migrants themselves. But it is yet to be seen to what extent serious efforts toward implementation of migrants’ rights are made. Given the different interests involved on the part of various stakeholders, the push for greater cooperation poses serious challenges to the upholding and advancing of the human rights of migrants.

Consequently, one of  the central questions raised by the Centre’s current projects is: Are these two trends—managing migration and the protection of migrants’ rights—going hand in hand or do they constitute conflicting areas of concern and policy (with rights issues being sidelined)? And if so how to reconcile this? The first step toward ensuring that control and protection aspects are part of migration policies is by way of reaching broad social consensus via an informed debate. Related to this is the question whether existing legal regimes and policies are the product of social dialogue?  To what extent does the institutional architecture on the global (UN), national and regional level provide opportunities for voicing alternative views on policy making?

Our research projects in this area investigate policy making processes as well as institutional and legal regulation in the area of migration by taking a multi-sited, multi-layered approach to ‘governance’. In this regard, we bridge legal scholarship with studies on social movements and public policy.

 

Projects

Critical perspectives on global governance

Governance of economic migration and the rights of migrants  

Towards a progressive framework for migration

 

Publications

Crawley, H (2006) Towards a Progressive Framework for Migration, London: Barrow Cadbury Trust

Piper, N. (2010) 'Temporary Economic Migration and Rights Activism - an organisational perspective', in: Ethnic and Racial Studies, Special Issue on Mobilization of Migrants and Minorities, guest-edited by John Solomos and Davide Peron, issue no. 1, pp. 1-33

Piper, N. (2009) ‘Temporary migration and political remittances: the role of advocacy networks in the transnationalisation of human rights’, European Journal of Asian Studies, Special Issue on Migration and Democracy, 8(2): 215-242

Piper, N (2007) 'Governance of migration and transnationalisation of migrants' rights - an organisational perspective', COMCAD Arbeitspapiere - Working Paper No. 22

Piper, N and Grugel, J (2007) Critical Perspectives on Global Governance: Rights and Regulation in Governing Regimes, London: Routledge 

Piper, N and Uhlin, A (eds) (2004) Transnational Activism in Asia – Problems of Power and Democracy, London: Routledge

Piper, N (2003) ‘Bridging gender, migration and governance: theoretical possibilities in the Asian context’, Asian and Pacific Migration Journal 12 (1-2): 21-48 

Piper, N (2002) ‘Global labour markets and national responses: legal regimes governing female migrant workers in Japan’, in: Gills, D. S. and Piper, N. (eds.), Women and Work in Globalising Asia, London: Routledge , 188-208