Irregular Migrants in Belgium and the Netherlands: Aspirations and Incorporation

Masja Meeteren

book: Irregular Migrants in Belgium and the Netherlands

Open Access Published by Amsterdam University Press 2014

Irregular Migrants in Belgium and the Netherlands

Aspirations and Incorporation

Masja Meeteren
In collaboration with: IMISCOE AUP Royaltyfonds

In the series IMISCOE Research

https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048523085

Overview
Contents

About this book

In Irregular Migrants in Belgium and the Netherlands, Masja van Meeteren studies the different ways in which irregular migrants live in Belgium and the Netherlands. The book offers an empirically grounded theoretical critique of the dominant research practice that focuses on 'survival strategies', relies on comparisons of migrant communities and overemphasizes structural explanations. Instead, Irregular Migrants takes irregular migrants´ aspirations as a starting point of analysis.

Based on this innovative research approach, key questions are answered regarding the lives of irregular migrants. How can we understand their patterns of economic and social incorporation, the transnational activities they engage in, and the significance of different forms of capital? Drawing on intensive participant observation, as well as more than two hundred in-depth interviews with irregular migrants and representatives of organizations that are involved with them, Irregular Migrants develops much-needed contextualized insights. As such, it sheds new light on previous research findings and various deadlocked scholarly debates on irregular migrants in Western societies.

Author / Editor information

Meeteren Masja :

Masja van Meeteren works as an Assistant Professor in the department of Criminology at Leiden University.

Reviews

"[T]his ground-breaking study... shows how the focus of previous research on structures and control has led to misleading views on irregular migration." -- Stephen Castles, University of Sydney

"A solid and valuable book, a major addition to the literature of a topic which commands increasing attention in Western societies" --Joaquín Arango, Complutense University of Madrid

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	1
Content Open Access Download PDF	7
Acknowledgements Open Access Download PDF	11
1. Irregular Migration as a Fact of Life Open Access Download PDF	13
2. Beyond Victims and Communities Bringing in aspirations Open Access Download PDF	23
3. Studying Aspirations Open Access Download PDF	45
4. Immigration Policies in Belgium and the Netherlands Open Access Download PDF	61
5. Investment, Settlement and Legalisation Aspirations Open Access Download PDF	81
6. Living Different Dreams (I) Aspirations and functional incorporation Open Access Download PDF	97
7. Living Different Dreams (II) Aspirations and social incorporation Open Access Download PDF	143
8. Aspirations and Transnational Activities Open Access Download PDF	165
9. Striving for a Better Position Aspirations and the role of economic, cultural and social capital Open Access Download PDF	183
10. Assessing a New Perspective Open Access Download PDF	201
Appendices Open Access Download PDF	221
References Open Access Download PDF	227

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 248
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 10
- Other: 10 halftones
Keywords: Illegal migration; incorporation; immigration; transnationalism; aspirations

eBook

Published: August 12, 2014
ISBN: 9789048523085