Looking for freedom? Networks of international student mobility and countries' levels of democracy. Issue 1 (6th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vögtle, Eva Maria; Windzio, Michael
• Is Part Of: Geographical journal. Volume 186:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2019-11-06
• Subjects: democratisation -- EHEA countries -- exponential random graph modelling -- international student mobility -- OECD countries -- social network analyses; Geography -- Periodicals; 910
• DOI: 10.1111/geoj.12329
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-7398

Abstract

Abstract : This article analyses the network of international student mobility between OECD and European Higher Education Area (EHEA) member countries between 2000 and 2009. It aims to investigate the link between countries' levels of democracy and how this impacts on their ability to attract degree‐mobile students from abroad. Social network analysis and exponential random graph modelling are used to show that the ties of student mobility occur more often when both countries in the dyad have either low or high levels of democracy and when the receiving country is also economically wealthy. The network is characterised by a core–periphery structure where a few countries act as hubs with numerous strong ties. The overall results lend support to homophily assumptions about the network of internationally mobile students and show a considerable confounding of effects of democratisation and economic prosperity on international student mobility. Abstract : This article investigates the link between countries' level of democracy and how this impacts on their ability to attract degree‐mobile students from abroad. Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Exponential Random Graph Modelling (ERGM) are used to show that for a sample of OECD and EHEA member countries, the ties of student mobility occur more often when both countries in the dyad have either low or high levels of democracy and when the receiving country is also economically wealthy. The network is characterized by a core‐periphery structure where a few countries act as hubs with numerous strong ties and overall results show a considerable confounding of effects of democratization and economic prosperity on international student mobility.