{"id":570,"date":"2014-11-20T15:49:52","date_gmt":"2014-11-20T15:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/youth-on-the-move-european-youth-and-geographical-mobility\/"},"modified":"2015-07-08T12:33:55","modified_gmt":"2015-07-08T12:33:55","slug":"youth-on-the-move-european-youth-and-geographical-mobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/youth-on-the-move-european-youth-and-geographical-mobility\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth on the Move. European Youth and Geographical Mobility."},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span> Review <\/p>\n

At the beginning of the 21st century, we are witnessing the birth of a new intra-European mobility phenomenon: a young and highly qualified population from the most vulnerable areas of the continent moving from their countries of origin towards European regions with enhanced professional development.<\/p>\n

In response to this, David Cairns, senior researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology at Lisbon University, presents Youth on the Move: European Youth and Geographical Mobility<\/em>, one of the few books that exclusively examines the mobility patterns of European youth. Composed of nine scholarly articles, the book explores the different aspects of geographical mobility of contemporary European youth. Nevertheless, the scope of this book is not as ambitious as the title suggests. It makes an explicit reference to \u2018European youth\u2019 but in practice, most articles examine young Portuguese mobility rather than the wider European frame, underrepresenting a variety of other countries. This problem is built into the fabric of the book, as most of the contributions were delivered at a conference, also entitled Youth on the Move?<\/em>, at the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Lisbon (ICS-UL) on September 21, 2007. While the focus on Portugal does not reduce the academic validity of their arguments, it needs to be\u00a0taken into consideration\u00a0for data interpretation.<\/p>\n

Five interesting approaches have been taken in order to address the different contributions: identity and belonging, decision-making process, labor integration, mobility in science and the consequences of progressive youth migration in Europe.<\/p>\n

Identity and belonging<\/strong><\/p>\n

In \u2018New perspectives on youth and migration\u2019, Thomas Geisen presents an interesting development of the concepts of belonging, social mobility and cultural repositioning in relation to young European migrants. Several years ago, a young immigrant was the exception that proved the rule of sedentary lifestyle. Nowadays, young migrants undertake the challenge of belonging to a majority, represented by the host country, but also a minority, as immigrants. Such a situation necessarily modifies the sense of belonging. The concept of cultural repositioning is related to the individual interrelation, transformation and adaptation to these different social identities. In this sense, multiculturalism can be presented as a source of \u2018identity turbulence\u2019 (Dietz 2003).<\/p>\n

This discussion is followed by \u2018Temporary youth migration and European identity\u2019. By means of a small-scale survey, Marion Hauvette discusses the characteristics of young migrants\u2019 identities as well as the effects of these newly acquired identities. Moreover, there is indeed a sense of belonging to Europe, but it is still far from becoming a European identity.<\/p>\n

The last contribution to this discussion about identity is introduced by In\u00e9s Pessoa in \u2018\u201cCosmopolitan\u201d Portuguese youth: The world as home after the Macao migratory experience\u2019. Pessoa sets the impact of identity changes arising from Portuguese emigration to Macao. It opens a space of reflexion to discuss cultural contributions of host countries. The author claims that the main effects of the post-immigration period are related not only to a socio-economic status but also to cultural-symbolic factors and social identity. In addition, she introduces the concept of cosmopolitanism, related to attitudes such as respect, openness, flexibility and reflexibility towards cultural diversity. These skills are developed and powered by the multiplicative effect of migration flows. Once the individual has experienced mobility, it is then translated into a desire for remaining in motion. As well, Hauvette adds the concept of internationally-oriented education. It involves\u00a0changes in young immigrants\u2019\u00a0personality, strengthening\u00a0characteristics\u00a0such as curiosity, sociability, independence, open-mindedness or\u00a0 intercultural\u00a0tolerance. However, this does not apply to all countries, or at least, not to the same extent. Moreover, one important aspect is greatly omitted in the discussion of young migrants\u2019 identities: age. In recent\u00a0years, age has provoked an\u00a0identity\u00a0disorder: social roles as well as the social conventions around age have changed. Yet, who is (migrant) youth in reality? Where can we set the age limits?<\/p>\n

The decision-making process<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contextual or individual factors can influence the decision to emigrate. In this approach,\u00a0Katarzyna\u00a0Growiec contributes with \u2018Capital and migration: The case of Polish youth\u2019, a case study of Polish young migration that explores the \u00a0social\u00a0capital\u00a0in transnational\u00a0mobility. Through an\u00a0exhaustive\u00a0quantitative analysis, \u00a0Growiec\u00a0presents a study on\u00a0the influences\u00a0of kin\u00a0and\u00a0non-kin ties in the\u00a0decision-making\u00a0process. The study suggests that non-kin members of social networks encourage young people to move abroad, while kin members reduce it. The relevance of family ties and community attachment is also supported by David Cairns and Nina Clara Tiesler in \u2018Across difference: Portuguese Muslim youth as Portuguese youth? A study about the lives of young\u00a0Muslims in\u00a0Portugal\u2019, in terms of their Portuguese identities and their status as Muslims. This study is perhaps the most distant\u00a0from the main topic, because it\u00a0does not discuss youth mobility\u00a0in a specific way. Likewise, David\u00a0Cairns\u00a0and Jim\u00a0Smyth contribute with \u2018Youth on the move? Student mobility and immobility in Portugal and Northern Ireland\u2019 that introduced a new aspect: not only\u00a0the European youth motivations to emigrate,\u00a0but also\u00a0what encourages them to stay in their home countries.<\/p>\n

However,\u00a0 is also necessary to point out the forced or voluntary\u00a0character\u00a0of this kind of mobility. The nature\u00a0of migration\u00a0depends not\u00a0only on the context\u00a0but also on the perceptions of the\u00a0phenomenon. In a context of\u00a0economic\u00a0crisis, where rising unemployment has caused\u00a0the\u00a0departure of thousands of\u00a0young Europeans seeking\u00a0career opportunities and where employment opportunities\u00a0simply do not exist, it is necessary to question the voluntary nature of migration (Ackers 2005). It is not a forced mobility \u2013 perhaps induced \u2013 but certainly not encouraged since most migration is spurred by individual initiatives\u00a0not tied to\u00a0political or\u00a0official exchange programmes. In this sense, personal contacts are a key factor for finding work abroad (Eurobarometer 2010).<\/p>\n

Labour integration<\/strong><\/p>\n

The third topic is uniquely addressed by \u2018Labour market integration of young migrants in Germany\u2019. Annette\u00a0Haas\u00a0and Andreas\u00a0Damelang\u00a0developed the concept of\u00a0labor integration\u00a0of young immigrants in\u00a0relation to\u00a0native German youth. This contribution suggests that there are employment integration differences between young immigrants\u00a0according to their country of\u00a0origin. It reveals the\u00a0weaknesses\u00a0and future\u00a0challenges of\u00a0social integration policies but provides little new information about the labour status of those European migrants.<\/p>\n

Mobility in science<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next topic is introduced by Ana Delicado in \u2018Young Portuguese researchers abroad: Preliminary results of a survey\u2019. This article\u00a0presents mobility in\u00a0science as a\u00a0specific phenomenon\u00a0due to\u00a0the nomadic nature of the academic profession. Through\u00a0a case study\u00a0on young\u00a0Portuguese researchers\u00a0abroad, Delicado provides interesting data\u00a0on the nature\u00a0of the phenomenon: a large percentage\u00a0of respondents\u00a0(81 percent) responded that\u00a0it was not their\u00a0first time\u00a0migrating\u00a0abroad. This\u00a0would\u00a0confirm\u00a0the multiplier effect\u00a0of migration flows\u00a0pointed out by Pessoa. Also noteworthy is the high percentage\u00a0(97 percent) of\u00a0academic migrants\u00a0who still maintain\u00a0contact with\u00a0their home institutions in contrast with the low rate\u00a0of return\u00a0(54 percent).<\/p>\n

In this sense, it is\u00a0also necessary to assess\u00a0potential negative impacts\u00a0for countries of origin that lose their highly qualified youth: human capital flight, more commonly referred as \u2018brain drain\u2019. Some\u00a0authors support\u00a0promoting changes\u00a0in science\u00a0and research\u00a0that encourage\u00a0exchange but\u00a0that do not generate intra-European\u00a0scientific asymmetry (Alaminos, Albert & Santacreu 2010). This suggests the existence of a political and economic compound that challenges the European \u2018free movement\u2019 concept. Also disputed is\u00a0the concept of \u2018science internationalization\u2019, since there are\u00a0clear benefits to\u00a0English-speaking\u00a0regions\u00a0and\u00a0researchers (Ackers\u00a02010).<\/p>\n

Consequences of emigration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following this discussion, Jo\u00e3o\u00a0Queir\u00f3s\u00a0introduces the approach of emigration consequences. In \u2018Recent economic performance and changing configurations of workforce mobility in Northwest Portugal: Social consequences of unemployment and the rise of youth emigration\u2019, Queir\u00f3s\u00a0exposes, among other issues, demographic changes\u00a0, economic\u00a0factors\u00a0and identity\u00a0disorders,\u00a0as discussed above.<\/p>\n

Youth on\u00a0the Move<\/em> meets the general goals\u00a0of exploring different\u00a0aspects of the European youth mobility, helping to\u00a0fill the cognitive vacuum around this phenomenon. As usually happens with\u00a0compilations of academic articles,\u00a0some\u00a0items\u00a0will be more\u00a0attractive than others depending on\u00a0the reader\u2019s interests. However, the compilation\u00a0 provides different methods of analysis of social reality\u00a0that can\u00a0generate ideas\u00a0for future research. Moreover, it is important to note that\u00a0the flexibility of this format allows\u00a0a contemporaneity that could not be offered\u00a0by other kinds of publications.<\/p>\n

Mobility or migration? I would like to leave this question up in the air. Both terms are used interchangeably\u00a0in the book and this review. Although\u00a0 often mainly distinguished by temporal factors, there is no\u00a0unanimous agreement,\u00a0since\u00a0migration by definition does not \u00a0have to be\u00a0permanent. Because of its temporary nature, young intra-European mobility has been systematically ignored by most mobility and European immigration studies. In this sense, Youth on the move<\/em> serves as a\u00a0valuable tool to detect emerging trends in young European mobility, but not a bound reference manual.<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ackers, L. (2005) \u2018Moving People and Knowledge: Scientific Mobility in the European Union\u2019, International Migration<\/em>, 43 (5): 99-131.<\/p>\n

Alaminos, A., Albert, M.C & Santacreu, O. (2010) \u2018La movilidad social de los emigrantes espa\u00f1oles en Europa\u2019, Revista Espa\u00f1ola de Investigaciones Sociol\u00f3gicas (Reis), <\/em>129: 13-35.<\/p>\n

Cairns, D. (Ed.) (2010) Youth on the move. European Youth and Geographical Mobility<\/em>. Wiesbaden, VS Verlag f\u00fcr Sozialwissenschaften.<\/p>\n

Dietz, G. (2003) Multiculturalismo, Interculturalidad y Educaci\u00f3n: Una aproximaci\u00f3n antropol\u00f3gica<\/em>. Granada, Editorial Universidad de Granada.<\/p>\n

European Commission (2010), Special Eurobarometer 337, <http<\/a>:\/\/<\/a>ec<\/a>.<\/a>europa<\/a>.<\/a>eu<\/a>\/<\/a>public<\/a>_<\/a>opinion<\/a>\/<\/a>archives<\/a>\/<\/a>ebs<\/a>\/<\/a>ebs<\/a>_337_<\/a>en<\/a>.<\/a>pdf<\/a>><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Review
\nAt the beginning of the 21st century, we are witnessing the birth of a new intra-European mobility phenomenon: a young and highly qualified population from the most vulnerable areas of the continent moving from their countries of origin towards European regions with enhanced … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":1186,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[143],"tags":[181],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=570"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1181,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions\/1181"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oc.citizensforeurope.org\/ojs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}