Abstract
Traditionally, and from a sedentary perspective, the concept of staying within migration studies has often been seen as simply the opposite effect of migration. Non-migrants have generally been ignored by many neoclassical theorists of migration, making non-migrants seem like passive victims, and denying them agency. It has only recently been recognised in migration studies that those who stay make a conscientious decision to do so, exercising personal agency. Therefore, this paper examines the underpinnings behind the decision to stay and create a framework for the study of non-migrants within migration studies. It considers the aspirations to stay and their capabilities to do so by examining stories of those who chose to stay and others who cannot leave. As such, this paper shows that the decision to stay goes far beyond the neoclassical understanding of passive immobility and is instead a multifaceted connection between family and culture, as well as economics.
Presenters
Klement CamajLecturer, School of Education and Social Sciences, Univeristy of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—The World on the Move: Understanding Migration in a New Global Age
KEYWORDS
MIGRATION, NON-MIGRANTS, SEDENTARISM, BELONGING, IMMOBILITY, CULTURE
