Browsing by Author "Kahelin, Julia"

This study deals with the structural push factors of economic emigration from Senegal to the European Union. This study is about the relation between socio-economic development and migration in the context of global economy and global interdependencies. The irregular migration of working-age Senegalese has been increasing in the 21st century. Many migrate in order to look for better living conditions, employment, and income prosperities in Europe. This research is based on 33 thematic interviews and focused observation conducted during a 6-week fieldwork in Kolda in Southern Senegal, In addition, local socio economic development is analyzed based on numeric and statistical evidence. Kolda is a geographically and economically disadvantaged area in Senegal. The youth unemployment and poverty rates are among the highest of the country, which increases the pressure to emigrate within the country or across international borders. The fieldwork enabled to integrate an actor.-oriented approach and to analyze the relation between the individual actors and the structures of the global economy. The practical framework of the fieldwork consist of a development cooperatio0n project funded by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. The project aims to increase the access to vocational training and the integration of youth in the local labor market and thus, increase the pressure to emigrate for economic reasons. The strategic objective of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa is to better manage irregular migration and address the root causes of migration in the countries of origins. The Trust Fund belongs to the EU’s Global Approach to Migration and Mobility. It integrates migration management in EU’s trade and external relations and development policies. It reflects the strategic and political objectives of the EU through consistent links to external and internal dimensions of EU’s migration policies. The findings show that the local youth worry about poverty and unemployment in the region and are concerned about their ability to find work and provide financial support for their families in near future. Majority of the interviewees consider emigration as a viable mean to survive and progress in life. Majority of the interviewees referred to migration either in Senegal or across the international borders as a likely option in near future. Cultural factors and family norms often increase the pressure to migrate for economic reasons. In an abstract and theoretical level, the structural push factors of Senegalese migration imply low socioeconomic development in the region and weak national economic development. The study deals with asymmetrical power relations in global governance and related influences in national and local underdevelopment in Senegal. The analysis include the colonial historical development of the trade and economic relations of the EU and Senegal. Furthermore, the incoherencies between the trade policy objectives and migration management and development objectives of the EU are discussed. For example, the Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and Senegal imply development objectives, but do not substantially advance the economic development of the Least Developed Countries, but decrease public revenue collected from import duties and disturb the exports of industries that Senegal has a comparative advantage. Because the tenet of capitalism include capital accumulation and expansion, capitalist governance require power in relation to other and capital accumulation in the expense of others lower in the global hierarchy. However, the study suggests that global liberal governance is not natural or unchanging but the result of policy decisions. Finally, the thesis deals wist reforms ogf the global economy and governance towards global social democratic values and policies, such as rule of law, political equality, democratic politics, social justice and social solidarity. To conclude, the thesis suggests that systematic reforms of global economy and governance would be more long-term and equal means to manage irregular economic migration than increasing restrictions of the movement of people.