Marina Richter

Contextualizing Gender and Migration: Galician Immigration to Switzerland

Focusing on two main aspects of the Spanish-Galician migration experience, this article attempts to analyze how migrants’ actions and discourses are shaped by notions of gender. First, the discourse of returning will question notions of family and how differently men and women define their positions as members of a family. While men seem to link their social identity to immovable goods of prestige back in Galicia, women are able to redefine their social identity as they base it on social relations. The second aspect deals with the fact that cleaning is defined as womens work, but at the same time it is – under certain conditions – performed by men.

End of Life in Prison: Talking Across Disciplines and Across Countries

What a good end of life means is a particularly relevant question in the context of confinement and prison. Most of the questions and issues raised by end of life for those living in liberty also apply to the correctional setting. However, the institutional particularities and logics of the prison create unique barriers and make it difficult in practice to reconcile concerns in regard to end of life—like care and comfort—with the mandate of corrections—confinement and punishment. At present, the literature on end of life in prison is dominated by U.S. contributions. We have therefore invited researchers from various disciplines in various countries to analyze the topic from their disciplinary perspectives and within the respective institutional frames of their national contexts.

Conducting commissioned research in neoliberal academia: The conditions evaluations impose on research practice

The article deals with the unease we experience during various commissioned research projects. On the one hand, as social scientists, we feel committed to conducting ‘good research’ that acknowledges quality criteria such as flexibility and transparency and in particular allows for musing and reflexivity to ‘discover’ new aspects of our research topic. On the other hand, we are situated in the context of present-day neoliberal academia. This means that our work is assessed according to a culture of audit characteristic for neoliberal management of universities that values publication indexes and fundamental research. At the same time, universities strive increasingly for third-party funding that favors commissioned research. This article discusses how commissioned research conditions our evaluations and research practice and how these conditions might conflict with the ‘good research’ we hope to conduct.

Social Networks and Transnational Migration Practices

The leading question of this chapter is how networking models develop during the process of migration—starting from organizing the initial travel, going through the challenges of finding a job and ending with transnational practices. In this process, three different types of networking are addressed: one defined by relatives, one based on colleagues and acquaintances and one characterized by the employers’ support, typical for the more settled type of migrants. The chapter addresses the interaction of migrants with the home country, showing that it is increasingly dominated by modern IT communication. Regarding interactions with the host community, the analysis indicates a pattern orientated towards the Bulgarian Diaspora though more educated migrants tend to communicate in wider and culturally diverse networks. Mobility apart, the research shows that remittances along with sending of goods emerge as social transfers and represent important transnational practices. Finally, the chapter highlights a number of interesting findings, revealing migration as a driver of shifts in national and ethnic identity. The data speaks about identity shifts leading to a self-identification with other more positively perceived ethnic, national and supra national groups.

Analysis and Conclusions: Research and Policy Challenges Ahead

The concluding chapter recaps the main findings of our research on different types of migration and mobility between Bulgaria and Switzerland and their determinants. Reference to East–West migration flows and transnational configurations in Europe helps in contrasting and understanding the peculiarities of the Swiss-Bulgarian case studied. Potential and current migration, including circular and return flows between Switzerland and Bulgaria, are the result of a combination of economic, social and political factors at micro, meso and macro levels that the research instruments have combined to capture. Stratified patterns of migration are explained by showing the role of inequality in permeating similar social processes and further enlarging the real and self-perceived divide between more and less successful Bulgarian migrants. The networking and transnational dimensions, in connection with inequalities, regional disparities and migration policy, explain to a great extent the degree of inclusion or exclusion, as well as the perceived sense of identity and belonging of different categories of Bulgarian migrants currently in Switzerland and circular/repeat migrants or returnees back in Bulgaria. The concluding remarks also aim to conceptualize further the interlinkages we have studied empirically to highlight the theoretical and empirical challenges which lie ahead for further research.

Determinants of Migration and Types of Migration and Mobility

The chapter suggests a comprehensive study of migration typology for Bulgarian migrants based on the concepts of individual aspirations and capabilities. The analysis utilizes data from sample surveys conducted in Switzerland and Bulgaria. An original classification of migrant types is proposed on the basis of aspirations revealed in respect of the future plans of the surveyed individuals. A distinction between short- and long-term potential migrants is derived. A subsample of the mobile population currently residing in Bulgaria is identified as well, i.e. those who have recent migration experience. These individuals are further differentiated into two main types: return and circular migrants. Along with this, the survey of Bulgarians residing in Switzerland provides an option to identify similar migrant types. The chapter provides insights on various aspects of the socio-economic profiles of the migration types studied. Finally, using logistic regression models the main determinants of the migration aspirations are outlined incorporating a selection of demographic and capability variables of respondents.

An Introduction to Migration and Transnationalism Between Switzerland and Bulgaria

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the political order of the borders within Europe has changed and has, subsequently, led to new paths and forms of migration. By discussing the case of Bulgarian–Swiss migration, this book gives an insight into such new patterns of migration. This chapter provides an introduction to the debates on East–West migration in Europe and situates the case we discuss within these debates. Further, it outlines the concepts that theoretically frame the analysis developed throughout the book: Transnationalism is used as an umbrella concept to capture practices and networks across countries but also to open up the term migration to include other forms of mobility such as circular movements. Social inequalities are often seen as a driver for migration; furthermore, they also structure migration patterns and are, vice versa, also affected by migration. Regional disparities provide the background to analyse the origin of migrants within a country and couple it with questions such as the economic development of certain regions. Finally, policies provide the context that frames and structures migration patterns. The chapter then outlines the empirical basis for the research including quantitative as well as qualitative data. Lastly, the chapter concludes with an overview of the various chapters of the book.

Following People, Visiting Places, and Reconstructing Networks. Researching the Spanish Second Generation in Switzerland

Although the second generation inherits the transnational networks and practices from its parents, this is seldom analyzed from a transnational point of view. The article explores, therefore, how the second-generation’s transnational networks and practices can be apprehended in empirical terms. We present a research design that was developed and used in a study on the Spanish second generation living in Switzerland. The mixed-methods approach evolves in four phases: (1) biographical interviews about the relationship of the second generation with family and friends in Spain; (2) ego-centric network maps and geographical maps for a structured account of relationships with people and places in Spain and abroad; (3) visits to people and places in Spain, including semi-structured interviews, photographs, and field notes; (4) a third interview with the interviewees of the second generation in Switzerland to comment and interpret together the material collected in Spain using methods such as drawing. We present the research strategy, its methodological implications, and illustrate it with data from the study. We conclude with an overview of the most important results.

End of Life in High-Security Prisons in Switzerland: Overlapping and Blurring of “Care” and “Custody” as Institutional Logics

Similar to other institutions, the Swiss prison system faces a growing number of elderly prisoners, trends toward securitization, and, in consequence, more prisoners who will spend the end-of-life (EOL) period of time in prison. By law, prisoners should have the same access to care as the rest of the population. However, custody makes meeting the demands of medical and palliative care difficult. This article focuses on the organizational challenges related to EOL care. Based on ethnographic and documentary research, it examines the institutional logic of the prison and the competing “new” logic emerging with EOL care. It illustrates the ambivalences within these logics and the blurred distinction between “care” and “custody” and evaluates how prison staff interpret this overlap and the effects in shaping everyday practices.

Human Rights and Dignity Behind Bars: A Reflection on Death and Dying in World Prisons

Death and dying in prisons constitute a topic of growing importance across the globe. Based on the contributions made in this special issue, we reflect on current debates and outline recommendations for dialogue and practice. Scientific dialogue across the Atlantic, and across the globe, provides insights into different national carceral systems and their ways of dealing with end of life behind bars. At the same time, the comparison also helps to identify basic needs and practices that can work in various settings. We identify several issues where further efforts need to be taken to deepen the dialogue. A common ground for all advancement of legislation and practice constitute the minimal level of rights to which every human being is entitled.