Migration Research Cooperation in Asia

							MIGRATION RESEARCH COOPERATION IN ASIA:
               AN OVERVIEW
  Building Migration Research Cooperation
      Monash Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
           10-12 November 2010


 Maruja MB Asis – Scalabrini Migration Center
Focus of the presentation
 Migration research has produced a body of knowledge about many
  aspects of international migration in Asia.
   Mostly descriptive; dominated by economic & demographic studies
   Lacking in theory (Hugo, 1998)


 The presentation will interrogate the production and
  dissemination of migration research.
   Mapping of knowledge infrastructure: which actors and institutions
    are behind knowledge production
   Modalities of dissemination and knowledge sharing
Focus of the presentation
 Asis, Piper and Raghuram (2010) “International Migration and
  Development in Asia,” International Migration, 48(3): 76-106

 Asis and Piper (2008) “Researching International Labor Migration
  in Asia,” The Sociological Quarterly, 49(3): 423-444.
 Knowledge infrastructure in the region
 Knowledge production about international migration in Asia
  kept pace with the unfolding of the phenomenon
   Knowledge vs. information
   Asia: East, South and Southeast Asia
   Mostly on labor migration (later expanded into marriage
    migration)
   Female migration attracted much research attention
   Lacking in theory
  INSTEAD
   Migration research in the region sought to describe, analyze and
    to guide policies and craft timely response to problem areas
     Boswell (2005): migration research in the EU was instrumental vs.
      legitimizing
     Migration research in Asia – origin and destination countries
Knowledge infrastructure in the region
 Knowledge Producers (WHO)
   Research centers devoted to international migration
     Independent
        Scalabrini Migration Center, Philippines (est. 1987)
     University-based
        Asian Migration Research Center, Chulalongkorn University (est.
         1987)
        Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, University of
         Dhaka (est. 1996)
        Asian Research Institute, National University of Singapore (est. 2001)
                           Asian Migration Cluster – research, conferences
   NGOs
     Asian Migrant Centre, Hong Kong (est. 1989)
     Partnership between NGOs and academic institutions
Knowledge infrastructure in the region
 Assemblages of Networks (HOW)
   “National” to transnational research


   Independent research
   Collaborative research (typically project-oriented)
     Lead research institution and research partners in multi-sited locations
     Ex: Migration Information System in Asia (MISA) Project
   Academic Networks
     Regional: Asia-Pacific Migration Research Networks (APMRN), est. in
      1995
     Sub-regional: South Asian Migration Research Network (SAMRen), est in
      2003
     National: e.g., Philippines and Korea
   NGO research networks
     Ex: Mekong Migration Network (2001, joint research; 2003, network)
Knowledge infrastructure in the region
 Modalities of Dissemination and Knowledge Sharing
   Publications: Books, Journals, Newsletters
     Asian and Pacific Migration Journal (est 1992) – journal production
      and the “scientific community”
   Conferences
   Via websites
   In practice, these modes of dissemination and knowledge
    sharing are combined

   Formation of community practice:
    APMagNet – The Asia-Pacific Network on Migration and Anti-
    Trafficking - http://apmagnet.ilobkk.or.th/
Points to consider
 Existing initiatives suggest the following:
   Different starting points in migration research cooperation
   Research is not the exclusive domain of academics; NGOs also
    engage in research
   Migration research cooperation has contributed to inter-
    disciplinary approaches
   Transnational cooperation has been enhanced by connectivities
    provided by the Internet – also promote inclusion
   Future work: translation of migration research in non-English
    languages; training and support to upcoming scholars;
    dissemination of research findings to a broader audience
Points to consider
 Some challenges in migration research cooperation in Asia
   Sustainability
   Funding needs to support research and other activities, such as
    conferences
     The role of international organizations
     The pitfalls of funding-driven initiatives
   Origin-destination differences (more heterogeneous compared
    to EU, for example)