Final Report Summary - EMIGRE (European emigration governance - emigration and diaspora policies and discourses in the post-crisis era.)
I. Work carried out to achieve the project's objectives
The objectives of the project fell in two broad areas: a) closing a knowledge gap on emigration and diaspora policies in the European Union, and b) support individual training of the researcher to support career goals.
1.1 Research objectives
The project looked at the EU member states from the perspective of emigration governance. The main underlying theme of this research was that emigration and immigration are two sides of the same coin and thus European migration governance should be approached from two angles to understand its full dimension. The European Union is in fact still a region of emigration, with a majority of migrants staying within its boundaries, however important numbers leaving the EU every year. Based on current global trends emigrants should be perceived as a potential asset. ÉMIGRÉ analysed emigration and diaspora policies of three EU Member States (France, Portugal and Poland) as well as EU-level responses to emigration. My main research objective was to understand what the diaspora and emigration policies are in the 21st century Europe.
Thanks to the long field work in Canada I was able to close the knowledge gap on migration from the EU to this country. Canada is the second most popular country of emigration and temporary mobility for the EU citizens (after the US) and has world’s most sophisticated statistical system that allows in-depth analysis using different variables. It is also the place where EU member states are still among top-20 countries of origin, which makes the qualitative work plausible.
In my research I focused on the three cases of Poland, France and Portugal. I also conducted research and data collection in these countries. The results of the analysis enriched international migration governance studies by providing comparative analysis of actions of EU Member States in regards to emigration management (which I analyzed in three different publications). Indeed, my research results showed that the EU Member States struggle to adjust their diaspora and emigration policies to the requirements of a more cosmopolitan, educated and mobile population. The century-old arrangements are not sufficient to support 21-century citizens in their mobility or emigration project. There is a clear need for labour mobility arrangements that could assure a beneficial insertion on the foreign labour market (as it is the case of the EU internal mobility) than heritage promotion consisting of cultural events and language classes. Only France has started to innovate along these lines, and only in Canada.
The research also helped me determine the relation between State identity formation in the three EU Member States and the policy learning/policy transfer processes between levels of governance with the special focus on the EU-level. The analysis has shown that the states with a closed ethnic identity are less innovative in their diaspora policies than states defining themselves through civic belonging. It seems that ethnic-centered definitions of the national community abroad are not easy to reconcile with the overarching idea of EU citizenship outside Europe. My research contributed thus also to the EU-level policy-making by opening new debates around the EU citizenship: i.e. EU citizenship among the diaspora members and their links to the EU. Overall, the EU Member States are ambivalent as to the place of the EU in their communication with the diaspora. EU is largely absent from diaspora schools and community events outside of the Europe. And yet, many of diaspora members have EU passports and thus the rights of EU citizens. This aspect was perceived as novel by all the interlocutors I met with to present research findings: in the EU institutions (EEAS, DG Trade, DG Just, EAC) and civil society (Europeans Throughout The World, New Europeans). The project has raised awareness of the need to reach out to the Europeans outside of the EU.
1.2 Career objectives
Diversification of scientific expertise and research skills were the main training objectives of the project. I participated in a variety of courses and trainings to improve the traditional methodological skills (such as statistical analysis or content analysis using appropriate software) and theoretical skills. Most importantly, I was able to open new avenues for the future by gaining new skills and certifications: in technology-based distance education, university teaching and technology-based policy development.
The project also boosted my publication records and citation levels. During the project I was able to produce twice as much publications than I initially expected. My current publication and research record make my goal of habilitation in 2018 very realistic.
See the wbesite at: www.agnieszkaweinar.net
The objectives of the project fell in two broad areas: a) closing a knowledge gap on emigration and diaspora policies in the European Union, and b) support individual training of the researcher to support career goals.
1.1 Research objectives
The project looked at the EU member states from the perspective of emigration governance. The main underlying theme of this research was that emigration and immigration are two sides of the same coin and thus European migration governance should be approached from two angles to understand its full dimension. The European Union is in fact still a region of emigration, with a majority of migrants staying within its boundaries, however important numbers leaving the EU every year. Based on current global trends emigrants should be perceived as a potential asset. ÉMIGRÉ analysed emigration and diaspora policies of three EU Member States (France, Portugal and Poland) as well as EU-level responses to emigration. My main research objective was to understand what the diaspora and emigration policies are in the 21st century Europe.
Thanks to the long field work in Canada I was able to close the knowledge gap on migration from the EU to this country. Canada is the second most popular country of emigration and temporary mobility for the EU citizens (after the US) and has world’s most sophisticated statistical system that allows in-depth analysis using different variables. It is also the place where EU member states are still among top-20 countries of origin, which makes the qualitative work plausible.
In my research I focused on the three cases of Poland, France and Portugal. I also conducted research and data collection in these countries. The results of the analysis enriched international migration governance studies by providing comparative analysis of actions of EU Member States in regards to emigration management (which I analyzed in three different publications). Indeed, my research results showed that the EU Member States struggle to adjust their diaspora and emigration policies to the requirements of a more cosmopolitan, educated and mobile population. The century-old arrangements are not sufficient to support 21-century citizens in their mobility or emigration project. There is a clear need for labour mobility arrangements that could assure a beneficial insertion on the foreign labour market (as it is the case of the EU internal mobility) than heritage promotion consisting of cultural events and language classes. Only France has started to innovate along these lines, and only in Canada.
The research also helped me determine the relation between State identity formation in the three EU Member States and the policy learning/policy transfer processes between levels of governance with the special focus on the EU-level. The analysis has shown that the states with a closed ethnic identity are less innovative in their diaspora policies than states defining themselves through civic belonging. It seems that ethnic-centered definitions of the national community abroad are not easy to reconcile with the overarching idea of EU citizenship outside Europe. My research contributed thus also to the EU-level policy-making by opening new debates around the EU citizenship: i.e. EU citizenship among the diaspora members and their links to the EU. Overall, the EU Member States are ambivalent as to the place of the EU in their communication with the diaspora. EU is largely absent from diaspora schools and community events outside of the Europe. And yet, many of diaspora members have EU passports and thus the rights of EU citizens. This aspect was perceived as novel by all the interlocutors I met with to present research findings: in the EU institutions (EEAS, DG Trade, DG Just, EAC) and civil society (Europeans Throughout The World, New Europeans). The project has raised awareness of the need to reach out to the Europeans outside of the EU.
1.2 Career objectives
Diversification of scientific expertise and research skills were the main training objectives of the project. I participated in a variety of courses and trainings to improve the traditional methodological skills (such as statistical analysis or content analysis using appropriate software) and theoretical skills. Most importantly, I was able to open new avenues for the future by gaining new skills and certifications: in technology-based distance education, university teaching and technology-based policy development.
The project also boosted my publication records and citation levels. During the project I was able to produce twice as much publications than I initially expected. My current publication and research record make my goal of habilitation in 2018 very realistic.
See the wbesite at: www.agnieszkaweinar.net