This article suggests that there is a mobility bias in migration research: by focusing on the “drivers” of migration — the forces that lead to the initiation and perpetuation of migration flows — migration theories neglect the countervailing structural and personal forces that restrict or resist these drivers and lead to different immobility outcomes. To advance a research agenda on immobility, it offers a definition of immobility, further develops the aspiration-capability framework as an analytical tool for exploring the determinants of different forms of (im)mobility, synthesizes decades of interdisciplinary research to help explain why people do not migrate or desire …
Comparative Migration Studies,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
9(1)
Published: Feb. 24, 2021
This
paper
elaborates
an
aspirations-capabilities
framework
to
advance
our
understanding
of
human
mobility
as
intrinsic
part
broader
processes
social
change.
In
order
achieve
a
more
meaningful
agency
and
structure
in
migration
processes,
this
conceptualises
function
aspirations
capabilities
migrate
within
given
sets
perceived
geographical
opportunity
structures.
It
distinguishes
between
the
instrumental
(means-to-an-end)
(directly
wellbeing-affecting)
dimensions
mobility.
yields
vision
which
moving
staying
are
seen
complementary
manifestations
migratory
is
defined
people's
capability
choose
where
live,
including
option
stay,
rather
than
act
or
migrating
itself.
Drawing
on
Berlin's
concepts
positive
negative
liberty
(as
widely
varying
structural
conditions
under
occurs)
how
macro-structural
change
shapes
capabilities.
The
resulting
helps
understand
complex
often
counter-intuitive
ways
transformation
'development'
shape
patterns
enable
us
integrate
analysis
almost
all
forms
one
meta-conceptual
framework.
Journal on Migration and Human Security,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 6, 2025
Executive
Summary
Lack
of
livelihood
opportunities,
violence,
and
other
pressures
lead
many
youth
from
across
El
Salvador,
Guatemala,
Honduras
to
migrate
without
documentation,
with
significant
numbers
attempting
reach
the
United
States.
Yet
youth,
facing
similar
obstacles,
find
or
create
opportunities
closer
home.
This
article
complements
emerging
research
on
what
motivates
individuals
in
high-migration
areas
remain
their
country
origin
by
reviewing
how
community-led
organizations
these
countries
have
contributed
creating
for
locally.
After
briefly
evidence
factors
associated
rootedness
(the
combination
economic,
social,
civic,
cultural
ties
one’s
homeland),
we
describe
experience
17
organizations,
all
grantees
Inter-American
Foundation
(IAF),
identify
income
generation,
education,
civic
engagement,
often
greater
likelihood
remaining
locality
country.
Much
effectiveness
derives
locally-led
efforts
provide
increasingly
comprehensive
approaches
development
that
boosts
young
people
perceive
themselves
potential
world,
while
strengthening
connection
communities.
approach,
more
than
any
single
intervention,
makes
difference
allowing
home
countries.
Social Sciences,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
8(8), P. 228 - 228
Published: July 29, 2019
While
those
‘trapped’
or
who
choose
to
stay
in
areas
affected
by
climate
change
represent
a
substantial
policy
issue,
there
only
small
amount
of
empirical
work
specifically
targeting
such
populations.
The
scant
attention
that
is
afforded
immobility
often
emphasizes
financial
constraints
as
factors
driving
(involuntary)
immobility.
As
an
essential
part
the
mobility
spectrum,
complexity
crisis,
including
its
political
dimensions,
warrants
thorough
investigation.
In
response
these
gaps,
this
contribution
locates
environmental
within
mobilities
studies,
conceptual
complexities,
and,
finally,
illustrates
importance
shaping
(im)mobilities.
findings
are
based
on
semi-structured
interviews
conducted
two
developing
countries
experiencing
impacts
change.
We
delve
into
socio-cultural
and
economic
nature
(im)mobilities
they
interact
with
forces,
exploring
international
bilateral
agreements
(Senegal)
relocation
program
(Vietnam).
spaces
dominated
desire
limit
human
(re)produce
stasis,
we
challenge
traditional
dichotomies
between
mobile/immobile
sedentary/migration
polices
underlining
how
interventions
can
simultaneously
promote
immobility,
demonstrating
complex
co-existing
mobilities.
Keeping
people
place
can,
fact,
mean
allowing
very
same
move.
Palgrave Communications,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
6(1)
Published: April 20, 2020
Abstract
The
concept
of
Trapped
Populations
has
until
date
mainly
referred
to
people
‘trapped’
in
environmentally
high-risk
rural
areas
due
economic
constraints.
This
article
attempts
widen
our
understanding
the
by
investigating
climate-induced
socio-psychological
immobility
and
its
link
Internally
Displaced
People’s
(IDPs)
wellbeing
a
slum
Dhaka.
People
migrated
here
environmental
changes
back
on
Bhola
Island
named
settlement
Slum
after
their
home.
In
this
way,
many
found
themselves
‘immobile’
having
been
mobile—unable
move
home,
unable
other
parts
Dhaka,
Bangladesh,
or
beyond.
analysis
incorporates
emotional
psychosocial
aspects
diverse
states.
Mind
emotion
are
vital
better
understand
people’s
(im)mobility
decision-making
status.
study
applies
an
innovative
interdisciplinary
methodological
approach
combining
Q-methodology
discourse
(DA).
mixed-method
illustrates
replicable
capture
complex
state
interlinkages
wellbeing.
reported
facing
non-economic
losses
move,
such
as
identity,
honour,
sense
belonging
mental
health.
These
processes
helped
explain
why
some
ended
up
immobile.
constraints
paralysed
them
mentally,
well
geographically.
More
empirical
evidence
how
climate
change
influences
health
will
be
important
provide
us
with
insights
best
support
vulnerable
faced
climatic
impacts,
build
more
sustainable
policy
frameworks.
Sustainability,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
12(11), P. 4718 - 4718
Published: June 9, 2020
Millions
of
people
impacted
by
climate
change
actually
want
to
remain
in
place;
these
aspirations
and
respective
capabilities
need
more
attention
migration
research
adaptation
policies.
Residents
at
risk
may
voluntarily
stay
put,
as
opposed
being
involuntarily
trapped,
understanding
such
subjectivity
is
empirically
challenging.
This
comment
elaborates
on
“voluntary
non-migration”
call
a
neglected
population
within
the
ongoing
discourses
climate-induced
migration,
social
equality
human
rights.
A
roadmap
for
action
outlines
specific
policy
goals.
Frontiers in Climate,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
4
Published: May 10, 2022
The
purpose
of
this
article
is
to
explore
how
migration
theory
invoked
in
empirical
studies
climate-related
migration,
and
provide
suggestions
for
engagement
with
the
emerging
field
climate
mobility.
Theory
critical
understanding
processes
we
observe
social-ecological
systems
because
it
points
a
specific
locus
attention
research,
shapes
research
questions,
guides
quantitative
model
development,
influences
what
researchers
find,
ultimately
informs
policies
programs.
Research
into
mobility
has
grown
out
early
on
environmental
often
developed
isolation
from
broader
theoretical
developments
community.
As
such,
there
risk
that
work
may
be
inadequately
informed
by
rich
corpus
contributed
our
who
migrates;
why
they
migrate;
types
employ;
sustains
streams;
choose
certain
destinations
over
others.
On
other
hand,
are
ways
which
environment
enriching
conceptual
frameworks
being
employed
understand
particularly
forced
migration.
This
paper
draws
review
75
modeling
efforts
conducted
diversity
disciplines,
covering
various
regions,
using
variety
data
sources
methods
assess
used
their
research.
goal
suggest
forward
large
growing
domain.
Geoforum,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
126, P. 290 - 301
Published: Sept. 2, 2021
Individuals
threatened
by
environmental
risks
may
choose
migration
as
a
survival
or
adaptation
strategy.
However,
various
factors
such
attachment
to
place
encourage
immobility
despite
disaster
risks.
Since
the
collapse
of
USSR,
residents
Tajikistan's
Pamir
Mountains
have
faced
significant
political
and
socioeconomic
difficulties
been
exposed
hazards
floods,
rockslides,
landslides,
avalanches.
These
put
human
security,
infrastructure,
food
accessibility
mountainous
areas
at
risk
call
into
question
aspirations
remain.
Drawing
on
ethnographic
fieldwork
in
Bartang
Valley,
this
article
addresses
context
changes
The
concept
is
used
explore
people-place
relationships,
voluntary
in-situ
adaptation.
Results
show
that
shaped
cultural,
socioeconomic,
ecological,
historical
variables
relationship
between
mobility
complex.
strong
Bartangis
influences
aspirations,
short-distance
displacements,
return
after
international
out-migration.
Findings
suggest
mutually
reinforcing
relation
attachment,
adaptive
capacity
disasters,
which
points
need
for
more
attention
relationships
within
mobilities
research.