Circular Migration in Asia: Approaches and Practices

Abstract

Circular migration is nothing new as it has long been rooted in internal migration and cross-border migration flows in Asia. What is new is the current emphasis on managed circular migration as a triple win situation bringing benefits to all three parties involved—migrant workers, destination countries and origin countries. The objective of the Chapter is to assess the theoretical underpinnings of the issue of circular migration as reflected in Asian migration studies. The relative absence of theoretical studies on circular migration and mobility in the Asia-Pacific context can be partly explained by the poor quality of data on circular mobility, and the high incidence of irregular and informal movements across borders. Moreover much of the recent work in the region has been descriptive and empirical, focussing on exploitation of migrant workers, female domestic workers, trafficking issues and vulnerability, and the ‘migration and development nexus’. The Chapter reviews past studies in so far as they try to explain the theory behind the origins and processes of the circular migration phenomenon. Most early theoretical work on circular migration was produced in relation to internal population movements or rural urban migration. The paper next discusses existing theoretical analysis of two major Asian labour migration systems—Gulf labour migration and the Asia-Pacific migration movements—focussing on low skilled migration. This is followed by a discussion of more recent work on circulation of skilled workers or brain circulation and diaspora circulation. The general finding is that the recent literature fails to distinguish clearly between circular and temporary migration processes, and lacks an adequate theoretical foundation to explain circular mobility. The paper identifies gaps in the analysis, and proposes area for further research in the field of circular migration.