Conference Programme (PDF, 1019KB) - Trinity College Dublin

abstracts by stream and session
Today, twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, cross-border migration or “new migration” acts a fundamental driver of
economic, social and political change not only in post-Cold War Europe, but also across the globe. Although scholars have explained the
causes of migration based on income differentials, social networks and demographics, the political determinants of migration remain
understudied. Politics can affect an individual’s decision to migrate through labour laws, visas, guest worker programs and the level of
political rights and civil liberties available to a foreigner in host countries. Given the relevance of these factors in a contemporary setting,
the role of politics in the migration decision can have significant ramifications for nations receiving or sending large populations.
This paper examines the effect of regime type, particularly democracy, on immigration. Other factors (such as income differentials,
employment opportunities and existing migrant networks in host countries) also play a major role in the migration decision. Thus, in
order to isolate the effects of political factors in the migration decision one must hold all other potential determinants constant. The
central hypothesis of this paper is that ceteris paribus, people migrate to countries with greater levels of political freedoms or higher
levels of democracy. An empirical analysis of a dataset of 180 countries provides weak evidence that net migration is higher in more
democratic countries. However, due to the inability of this macro-level analysis to capture bilateral migration flows, the paper also utilizes
Turkish migration to Germany as a case study. Using literature and migration statistics, I assess the extent to which democratic values in
Germany impact the inflow of Turkish migrants.
Finally, I discuss the lessons from these analyses in a national and a global context, highlighting their implications for political scientists
and practitioners. On a theoretical level, understanding the way in which politics drives migration could contribute to a better grasp of
the deregulation or tightening of labour markets. In the policy realm, this insight may be used by multilateral institutions to make more
informed decisions when dealing with treaties concerning labour flows. The findings from this study highlight that the role of politics in
the migration decision can have far-reaching consequences for migrant-sending and receiving countries.
Session 4h Health, Humour and Integration
The Funny Side of Integration: Linking humour and cross-cultural adaptation
Maria Ramirez de Arellano, Dublin City University, Ireland
This presentation will examine the nature of humour in cross-cultural adaptation as an interdisciplinary area that should be of interest to
Intercultural and Migration Studies. It will include a review of the complexity of humour studies by offering an introduction to traditional
and modern theories of humour (Freud, Kant, Chiaro). It will then present some theoretical models of cross-cultural adaptation (Kim,
Anderson) and make connections between the two fields of studies. The occurrence and relevance of these connections will be illustrated
with primary research data from a study on the evolution of humour in the adaptation process of Spanish sojourners living in Ireland. The
study examines the attitudes and behaviour of Spanish people living in Ireland in order to come to conclusions based on real life research.
It analyses their views on the cultural facets of humour and the positive and negative effects that humour may have on the process
adaptation and integration into a new culture. The result is a set of conclusions that show that humour is a key factor of adaptation. On
the one hand humour is a powerful intercultural tool; on the other hand it is part of one’s intercultural identity whose evolution is closely
linked to cross-cultural adaptation and integration in the host society. The personal experience and individual evolution that take place
along the process cross-cultural adaptation brings changes in our world view which would affect our perception of humour as well as the
way we use it within the different social networks maintained in our home and host culture. One important conclusion of this study which
is examined throughout this paper is that humour is a very important facet of cross-cultural adaptation and a key factor to integration
which makes it a valuable subject for further research in intercultural and migration studies.
Behind closed doors: Understanding the politics of migrant health conditions in Modern Ireland - The case of Sickle Cell Disease
Esther Owuta-Pepple Onolememen, University College Dublin, Ireland
This research focuses on the public policy (social policy, social work, public health and service design) implications of the growth of
Sickle Cell Disorders (SCD) in the Republic of Ireland. SCD is a new paediatric prevailing disease, and has been found to be one of the
key areas of migrant health conditions (apart from HIV/AIDS) challenging 21sth century Irish health service. One notable area of public
policy that has seen tremendous challenges following migration trends in many countries has been the health care system. Many nations
now consistently seek to resolve questions addressing how well a health care system should be structured in order to afford an improved
health status for its people and for the new guests. The PhD research builds on an MSW (TCD) study of “African Parents’ experiences
of Living with Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Ireland”. The research locates current policy underdevelopment in the Irish case in a
comparative analysis of Sickle Cell Disorders health policy development in the United and the European Union. Specific field research
will be undertaken of sample (predominantly African-immigrants) families living with Sickle Cell Disorder and sample health service
practitioners and policy actors in the Republic of Ireland and England. The aim of the research is to inform best practice in the Irish case.
The author builds on the sole three studies to date that have examined the cultural implications of Sickle Cell Disorders in the Irish case.
These are McMahon and Smith (2000), McMahon et al. (2001) and O’Callaghan, (2002). Each of these preceded the growth of the Sickle
Cell community resulting from recent immigration. None focused on the broader implications for public policy. This research aims
to make a unique academic contribution to the field of immigration and social policy, social work and health policy research in the
Irish case.
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