Suchergebnisse

This open access book offers new insights into the ageing-migration nexus and the nature of home. Documenting the hidden world of France's migrant worker hostels, it explores why older North and West African men continue to live past retirement age in this sub-standard housing. Conventional wisdom holds that at retirement labour migrants ought to instead return to their families in home countries, where their French pensions would have far greater purchasing power. This paradox is the point of departure for a book which transports readers from the banlieues of Paris to the banks of the Senegal River and the villages of the Anti-Atlas. In intimate ethnographic detail, the author brings to life the experiences of these older labour migrants by sharing in the life of the hostels as a resident, by observing at close quarters the men's family life on the other side of the Mediterranean as a guest in their homes, and even by accompanying them in their travels by bus, sea, and air. The monograph evaluates several theories of migration against rich qualitative data gathered from multiple methods: biographical narrative and semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and archival research. In the process, it offers a thoughtful contribution to broader debates on what it means for migrants to belong and achieve inclusion in society. "This book makes an important contribution to our understanding of transnationalism and integration. It also offers an unusually nuanced view of the strains that migration places on families" Christina Boswell, University of Edinburgh "A fascinating read which poignantly shows that the ageing-migration nexus is a theoretically profuse source of information about return migration, retirement and the meaning of home "Based on a prize-winning PhD thesis, and enriched by unique field research in migrant-worker hostels in France, this book engages in truly innovative fashion with the linked themes of migration, ageing and 'home'." Russell King, University of Sussex

Aging migrants; Return and circulation migration; Migrant worker hostels in France; Social systems; Older North and West African men

AbstractIn the last two decades, transnational social fields have been transformed by advances in information and communication technologies (ICT). Many scholars have noted the empowering effects of these technological advances for migrants. Drawing on the concept of return preparedness, it follows that ICT use should also empower prospective returnees, enabling them to be better informed and prepared for return. However, multi‐sited ethnographic research with older North and West African men living in migrant worker hostels in France finds that ICT use – particularly mobile telephony –impedes return. In some instances, mobile phones serve to amplify the pressures on the men to provide financially for their stay‐at‐home relatives. In others, mobile phones reinforce attachments to France by facilitating networks of solidarity among hostel residents. Instead of returning definitively at retirement, many hostel residents choose a bi‐residence strategy, dividing their time between France and countries of origin.

The sustainability of radiation biology (radiobiology) is under threat in South Africa because of underdevelopment in the discipline, despite the fact that South Africa has been a user of radiation since radioactivity and X-rays were discovered. The widespread use of radiation in medicine, nuclear reactors, particle accelerators and other sophisticated nuclear facilities in South Africa makes it imperative that the interaction of radiation with biological systems is understood. For example, radiobiology is critical in radiation oncology and cancer treatment. Radiobiology is a distinctly biological science and its uniqueness and value should be highlighted to provide insight for authorities and other relevant parties. Regrettably, radiobiology has been largely neglected despite the importance of maintaining expertise and competence in this discipline. Many radiation-associated disciplines require radiobiology for their training and practice yet few radiobiologists are available nationally. The scientific community needs to be informed of the predicament of radiobiology in South Africa so that the situation can be addressed. Radiobiology is a scarce skill that needs to be developed to support South Africa's mature radiation infrastructure. The country has too few radiobiologist training programmes and there is a lack of succession planning. Radiobiology is required for training and practice in a number of disciplines that use radiation, but, as a result of a shortage of qualified personnel, teaching of radiobiology has frequently been conducted by non-experts. To reinvigorate radiobiology in South Africa, a collective effort by government, academia, industry and allied professionals is required.

Abstract
By and large, the attention and resources of governments, NGOs, and humanitarian actors have been directed at children and working-age displaced people, ignoring the needs and perspectives of displaced elders. Africa is the continent with the largest number of displaced people aged 60 and over. To help achieve equity and better representation for this latter group, it appears essential to delineate and clarify the evidence base on displaced elders in Africa. We systematically searched bibliographic databases in the social and health sciences. One hundred forty-one papers met our inclusion criteria globally, of which 16 were based on data collected in African countries. The scoping review establishes that the main focus has been the specific vulnerabilities faced by older African displaced people, particularly with regard to physical health and the erosion of social support systems. Contrary to research on older displaced populations elsewhere, studies on the mental health of displaced elders in Africa are lacking. Similarly, more priority should be given to phenomenological and life course approaches to better understand the lived experience of displaced African elders.

By and large, the attention and resources of governments, NGOs, and humanitarian actors have been directed at children and working-age displaced people, ignoring the needs and perspectives of displaced elders. Africa is the continent with the largest number of displaced people aged 60 and over. To help achieve equity and better representation for this latter group, it appears essential to delineate and clarify the evidence base on displaced elders in Africa. We systematically searched bibliographic databases in the social and health sciences. One hundred forty-one papers met our inclusion criteria globally, of which 16 were based on data collected in African countries. The scoping review establishes that the main focus has been the specific vulnerabilities faced by older African displaced people, particularly with regard to physical health and the erosion of social support systems. Contrary to research on older displaced populations elsewhere, studies on the mental health of displaced elders in Africa are lacking. Similarly, more priority should be given to phenomenological and life course approaches to better understand the lived experience of displaced African elders.

This short article reports on a symposium at the University of Edinburgh entitled 'Is Scotland Different on Race and Migration'. The event brought together the latest research to consider whether Scotland really is different from neighbouring countries. Questions under discussion included, but were not limited to, what does the data tell us on mass Scottish attitudes? Is 'Scottishness' more inclusive then 'Englishness'? Where do migrants and racial minorities fit into this story and who is narrating it? What are Scotland's policy options in light of it?

Transnational ageing presents fundamental challenges to nationally bounded welfare states, which historically have tended to be organised according to a logic of solidarity among nationals and permanent residents of a given state territory. Nonetheless, the Dutch and French governments have taken steps to break this link between solidarity and territorially bounded consumption of welfare, by providing lifelong income security for older migrants who return to countries of origin on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. This article asks what motivated policymakers to initially develop these novel policy tools for transnational ageing which contradict the territorial logic of the welfare state. Based on interviews with key stakeholders and available official documents, we find that in both France and the Netherlands, policymakers' initial motivations can be characterised as rather benign, if not beneficent: to facilitate return for those who are willing but unable to afford it. However, two types of obstacle have impeded the delivery of such policies. Non-discrimination clauses and free movement rights in EU law may make it difficult to implement policies for specific categories of older migrants. Electoral realpolitik may also lead policymakers to shelve policies which benefit older migrants, in a European context where public opinion on immigration is less and less favourable. Nonetheless, opposition may be neutralised by the budgetary advantages of these schemes, since older returnees do not consume public services such as healthcare.

Inspired by academic and political currents in North America, early research on migrant integration in the United Kingdom contributed to the development of a 'race relations' consensus, launching Britain on a trajectory quite distinct from subsequent approaches in neighbouring European countries. Since the 1970s, the diversity of discourse coalitions and actors involved in discussions of migrant integration policy has increased markedly. An interesting feature of the UK case has been policymakers' long-standing preference for integration dialogues to take place in government-sponsored commissions. Developing the insight that independent commissions are an ideal venue to study science-society dialogues, the authors compare three commissions that reported in the 2000s: the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain in 2000 (CMEB); the Community Cohesion Review Team (CCRT) in 2001; and the Commission on Integration and Cohesion in 2007 (CIC).

This project has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 291827. The project "Defining and Identifying Middle Eastern Christian Communities in Europe" is financially supported by the HERA Joint Research Programme (www.heranet.info) which is cofunded by AHRC, AKA, BMBF via PT-DLR, DASTI, ETAG, FCT, FNR, FNRS, FWF, FWO, HAZU, IRC, LMT, MHEST, NWO, NCN, RANNÍS, RCN, VR, and The European Community FP7 2007-2013, under the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities programme. ; This article explores how migrants experience the process of becoming (and being) citizens by taking the understudied case of Middle Eastern Christians of Iraqi and Egyptian heritage residing in the United Kingdom. It is argued that exclusion in the Middle East reinforces a sense of inclusion in the UK particularly due to the prevalence of the rule of law in the UK. However, by exploring a "clash of values" on the role of religion in society and sexual liberalization issues, it is suggested that Middle Eastern Christians' support for equality and tolerance is not absolute, especially when they perceive societal norms as conflicting with religious teachings. Finally, the paper shows how the notion of "protective patriotism" is used by some Middle Eastern Christians to express their belonging to their new state by defending perceived societal values. ; Publisher PDF ; Peer reviewed