Journal of Ethnic and Migration
Studies
Volume 29, Number 3, May 2003
Articles
Research note
Abstracts
Michael
Alexander
Local policies toward migrants as an expression of Host–Stranger
relations: a proposed typology [Abstract]
Olaf
Köppe
The Leviathan of Competitiveness: how and why do liberal states (not) accept
unwanted immigration?
[Abstract]
Jon E.
Fox
National
identities on the move: Transylvanian Hungarian labour migrants in Hungary
[Abstract]
Ayumi
Takenaka
The mechanisms
of ethnic retention: later-generation Japanese immigrants in Lima, Peru
[Abstract]
Trevor
Jones and Monder Ram
South Asian businesses in retreat? The case of the UK
[Abstract])
Fernando
Molero, María Soledad Navas, José Luis González, Pilar Alemán and Isabel
Cuadrado
Paupers or
riches: the perception of immigrants, tourists and ingroup members in a sample
of Spanish children
[Abstract]
George
Halkos and Dimitrios Salamouris
Socio-economic
integration of ethnic Greeks from the former USSR: obstacles to entry into the
Greek labour market [Abstract]
Rossetos
Fakiolas
Regularising
undocumented immigrants in Greece: procedures and effects
[Abstract]
Neil
Chakraborti and Jon Garland
Under-researched and overlooked: an exploration of the attitudes of rural
minority ethnic communities towards crime, community safety and the criminal
justice system [Abstract]
Michael
Alexander
Local policies toward migrants as
an expression of Host–Stranger
relations: a proposed typology
Abstract
This article proposes an analytical framework for comparing and understanding
local policy reactions to the settlement of labour migrants, based on the
concept of Host–Stranger relations.
Labour migrants represent the Stranger in our midst, and local migrant policies
are part of a process in which the local authority comes to grips with the
presence of these Strangers. Increasingly, European cities are developing their
own ways of dealing with the permanent presence of a significant migrant
population, often diverging from national policies. Municipal policy reactions
range from establishment of migrant advisory councils to dispersal of ethnic
enclaves. As 'new immigration' cities try out their own policies, we may speak
of a European-wide phenomenon with cities in different stages of migrant policy
development. Yet we lack a theoretical framework enabling comparison of migrant
policies at the local level, across different cities and policy domains. The
typology proposed here posits four types, or phases, of municipal
attitudes/assumptions regarding the migrants and their Otherness, expressed in
specific policies toward the migrant population. The aim of the typology is to
highlight this often hidden dimension of policy-making at the local level.
Examples from a literature survey of 25 cities illustrate uses of the proposed
typology.
Keywords: Host–Stranger relations; Immigrant policy; Local policy
(Journal of
Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 3: 411-430, © 2003 Taylor and
Francis Ltd)
Olaf
Köppe
The Leviathan of Competitiveness:
how and why do liberal states (not) accept unwanted immigration?
Abstract The article deals with issues of migration and
migrant rights in Germany. Even if many scholars have elucidated with convincing
clarity that Western nation-states can improve migrants’ rights due to the
autonomy of the legal system, this paper’s focus is to point out the
vulnerability of that legal process. The political and judicial regulation of
migration in Germany over the last forty years shows that the discretionary
power of the authorities regarding non-nationals is much stronger than for
nationals. And because of the transformation of the former welfare states into
‘competition states’, migration policies are now likely to be subsumed under the
principle of competitive advantage. In this study I reaffirm that the judicial
improvement of migrant rights should be primarily understood in terms of the
nation-state, and refer to general political and economic conditions that the
courts can not (or will not) disregard in their decision-making process.
Keywords:
Citizenship; Competition state; Courts; Migration; Migrant rights; Nation state
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Vol. 29 No. 3: 431-448, © 2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)
Jon E.
Fox
National identities on the move:
Transylvanian Hungarian labour migrants in Hungary
Abstract Since 1990, the temporary labour migration of ethnic Hungarians
from the Transylvanian region of Romania has provided a context for the
emergence of new and distinctly national modes of self-understanding. In this
paper I develop a three-part analytical framework to examine the ways in which
migration is conducive to the transformation and dissemination of changing
national identities. First, I argue that host countries for all migrants
(including those involved in other examples of ethnic affinity migration) are
inevitably recognised as foreign and often alienating. Second, I examine the
reasons migrants consistently understand and represent these new-found
differences in explicitly national terms. Finally, I discuss the ways in which
migration networks facilitate the standardisation and diffusion of transformed
identities. Rather than signalling the demise of national forms of
identification predicted by some observers of international migration, the
Transylvanian Hungarian case reveals how temporary labour migration can be the
conduit for the transformation and reinvigoration of national identities.
Keywords: National identity; Labour
migration; Ethnicity; Transnationalism; Eastern Europe
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 3: 449-466, ©
2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)
Ayumi
Takenaka
The mechanisms of ethnic retention:
later-generation Japanese immigrants in Lima, Peru
Abstract This paper examines how and why an ethnic community
perpetuates itself over generations, drawing on ethnographic research conducted
among later-generation Japanese-Peruvians in Lima, Peru. After their
100-year-long presence in Peru, Japanese-Peruvians, now mostly in their second
and third generations, are highly acculturated. They are also integrated
economically, and now politically – as exemplified by the election of Alberto
Fujimori as the first President of Japanese descent (1990–2000). Despite
increased levels of integration, Japanese-Peruvians have maintained an
institutionally well-established ethnic community that has grown, rather than
diminished, in each generation. How have they been able to preserve such a
community, and why have they done so? I seek answers to these questions in the
nature of their community institutions and the role of Japan. A key to their
ethnic community maintenance lies not in the preservation of the ‘old culture’,
but rather in recreating ‘Japanese culture’ anew through community activities
with a backing of Japan.
Keywords:
Japanese-Peruvians; Lima; Ethnic community; Integration; Acculturation; Cultural
symbols
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Vol. 29 No. 2: 467-483, © 2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)
Trevor
Jones and Monder Ram
South Asian businesses in retreat?
The case of the UK
Abstract The quantitative prominence of South Asians in
self-employment has assumed an almost taken-for-granted status within the field
of ethnic minority entrepreneurship. Whilst the issue of Asian business
‘success’ has provoked controversy, the numerical significance of South Asian
self-employment is accepted with little comment. This paper presents evidence
that questions this unspoken agreement. Although the experiences of South Asian
groups in business differ in important respects, the numerical gap between them
and the rest of the small business population is gradually being whittled away.
A combination of ‘competitive push’ and ‘labour market pull’ factors account for
this little-noted convergence.
Keywords: South Asian businesses;
Retreat; Labour market pull; Competitive push
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 3: 485-500, ©
2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)
Fernando
Molero, María Soledad Navas, José Luis González, Pilar Alemán and Isabel
Cuadrado
Paupers or riches: the perception of
immigrants, tourists and ingroup members in a sample of Spanish children
Abstract The aim of this study is to analyse the perception a
group of 221 Spanish school children aged 10 and 11 years (116 girls and 105
boys) have of themselves, tourists and immigrants. The survey was carried out in
an area of south-east Spain in which there is a significant presence of both
tourists and immigrants. The children answered a series of open-ended questions
and a semantic differential scale with questions regarding these three groups.
Results show that although in absolute terms immigrants are not perceived
negatively, their image is worse than that held of tourists and ingroup members.
The opinion held about immigrants becomes more negative as children get older,
especially among male participants. Moreover, immigrants are better perceived if
they are seen as workers – less ‘strange’ and with more money – and if there is
also a better perception held towards tourists. We explain these results from a
socio-psychological perspective.
Keywords: Immigration; Prejudice;
Social identity; Tourists; Ingroup favouritism
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 2: 501-518, ©
2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)
George
Halkos and Dimitrios Salamouris
Socio-economic integration of ethnic
Greeks from the former USSR: obstacles to entry into the Greek labour market
Abstract The purpose of this study is to collect data on the
demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of ethnic Greeks from the former
USSR and then assess the extent to which these characteristics affect their
integration into the Greek labour market. To achieve this target we employ
logistic regression analysis to test a model to predict the case of being
employed or not by considering various factors as explanatory variables. A field
survey carried out in the broad area of West Athens (total of 6,994 respondents)
is used to estimate the parameters of this model. From past experience we
identify 13 major variables contributing to employment or not. The results
generate an overall model with six of the 13 variables statistically
significant. The final part of the paper discusses the policy implications of
the findings, particularly the necessity for better professional and language
training of the ethnic Greek immigrants from the ex-USSR.
Keywords: Ethnic Greeks; Migration; Socio-economic integration; Labour market;
Logistic regression
(Journal of
Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 3: 519-534, © 2003 Taylor and
Francis Ltd)
Rossetos
Fakiolas
Regularising undocumented
immigrants in Greece: procedures and effects
Abstract This article examines the administrative procedures
and results of the two legalisations in Greece in 1998 and 2001. Although the
massive inflow of foreign immigrants had started in the late 1980s, the number
of foreigners granted residence and work permits was restricted, causing a large
stock of undocumented immigrants and creating the mentality that these economic
immigrants are a new source of low-cost unregistered labour. Following the two
legalisations, an increasing number of foreigners have progressed towards
integration. Little has changed, however, in the other main aspects of
immigration to Greece: not all undocumented immigrants have applied for
legalisation; for various reasons many do not renew their green card when it
expires; new or previously expelled migrants flock in, attracted by the demand
for their flexible labour and facilitated by the large underground economy;
around 230,000 expulsions continue to take place annually; and there is no
indication as to how things are likely to develop after the new extension given
to all permits until 30 June 2003. Under the present conditions of high
unemployment, increasing economic uncertainty and political tension in the
country, a third legalisation within a short time-frame may cause serious social
reactions. The main challenge to migration policy now is how to effectively
control migrant inflows and prevent legal immigrants, who also help to redress
the serious demographic imbalances in Greece, from lapsing into illegality.
Keywords: Undocumented migrants;
Regularisation; Greece; Economic effects of immigration; Migration policy
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 3: 535-561, ©
2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)
Neil
Chakraborti and Jon Garland
Under-researched and overlooked:
an exploration of the attitudes of rural minority ethnic communities towards
crime, community safety and the criminal justice system
[Abstract]
Abstract Recent legislative, social and political developments in the UK
have drawn attention to minority ethnic communities’ experiences and perceptions
of crime and the racialised discrimination suffered by such communities at
various stages of the criminal justice system. This research note further
explores these issues by discussing the findings of a study which examined the
views of minority ethnic communities based in the predominantly rural English
county of Suffolk. Utilising a range of quantitative and qualitative methods,
the study uncovered both high levels of victimisation and widespread fear of
crime amongst minority ethnic respondents, together with major concerns about
the effective and equitable operation of the criminal justice system. A number
of suggestions are made with regard to addressing these concerns, and it is
argued that particular features of rural areas can serve to intensify such
groups’ feelings of alienation from the workings of the criminal justice system.
Keywords: Rural minority ethnic
‘communities’; Criminal justice system; Victimisation; Racism; Fear of Crime
(Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol. 29 No. 3: 563-572, ©
2003 Taylor and Francis Ltd)