Power and proliferation: Explaining the fragmentation of global migration governance. (13th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kainz, Lena; Betts, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Migration studies. Volume 9:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2020-08-13
• Subjects: governance -- migration -- fragmentation -- United Nations -- New York Declaration -- Global Compact; Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; Forced migration -- Periodicals; 304.805
• DOI: 10.1093/migration/mnaa015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-5838

Abstract

Abstract: Fragmentation is widely recognised as one of the defining characteristics of global migration governance. However, there has been little academic analysis of fragmentation, either as a dependent or independent variable in the international politics of migration. We aim to explain why it is that global migration governance has historically emerged as a patchwork of international institutions. In order to do so, we outline an original theoretical framework based on the proposition that power asymmetries between predominantly 'sending' and 'receiving' countries create a dynamic in which relatively weak states seek multilateralism and relatively strong states veto multilateralism, leading to institutional proliferation as a means to address immediate functional challenges. We apply this framework to four key historical turning points in the recent history of global migration governance: first, the impasse at the United Nations and the expansion of Regional Consultative Processes (1985–2001); second, the surge of new mandate creations and the first High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Development (1999–2006); third, the establishment of the Global Forum on Migration and Development and the Global Migration Group (2006–8); and finally, the New York Declaration and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (2016–18).