Emigration and Political Development

This book examines whether countries or regions that experience significant outward migration can expect to benefit politically from that emigration.

Jonathon W. Moses (Author)

9780521173216, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 September 2011

312 pages, 18 b/w illus. 20 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.43 kg

“Migration is generally considered to improve the economic well-being of the individual, though its broader effects on society and the polity are poorly understood. In this subtle analysis of emigration and political development, Jonathon Moses opens a new line of inquiry and his findings are original and provocative. Anyone interested in how mobility effects political change will want to read this book.”
– James F. Hollifield, Professor of Political Science, Southern Methodist University

While policy makers, international organizations and academics are increasingly aware of the economic effects of emigration, the potential political effects remain understudied. This book maps the nature of the relationship that links emigration and political development. Jonathon W. Moses explores the nature of political development, arguing that emigration influences political development. In particular, he introduces a new cross-national database of annual emigration rates and analyzes specific cases of international emigration (and out-migration within countries) under varying political and economic contexts.

1. Introduction
2. Toward political development
3. Linking emigration to political development
4. Global connections
5. The free migration regime before WWI
6. Guest-worker programs after WWII
7. Limited mobility in the world today
8. Internal migration
9. Fellow travellers
10. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Comparative politics [JPB], Migration, immigration & emigration [JFFN], Social & political philosophy [HPS]