Understanding Race and Cooperation in Asymmetric Migration Interdependence

• In Event: (Un)Deserving Migrants: Race and International Migration

Abstract

Under what conditions do states cooperate on labor migration management at times of crisis and, in particular why would stronger countries of destination cooperate with weaker countries of origin? We apply an international relations framework of migration interdependence to the Asia-Gulf migration corridor in an order to explain cooperative outcomes in the management of cross-border population mobility. Through an in-depth exploration of Nepal-GCC and Thailand-GCC migration before and after the global COVID-19 pandemic, we argue that existing accounts have yet to take the role of race into account, which may explain positive outcomes in contexts of asymmetric migration interdependence. In sharp contrast to earlier crises, in which stronger states are acting unilaterally to sever pre-existing ties of migration interdependence with co-ethnics, we identify how the question of race has served to strengthen bilateral cooperation. We conclude by examining how a framework that incorporates race into relations of asymmetric migration interdependence between countries of origin and destination may explain recruitment practices in South-South as well as South-North migration.

Authors

• Gerasimos Tsourapas, University of Glasgow

• Kamal Sadiq, University of California, Irvine