Despite decades of international policy development, durable solutions to protracted refugee displacement remain elusive. This article asks why, examining Bangladesh’s responses to the Rohingya influxes of 1991–1992 and 2017. It argues that the realisation of repatriation, local integration and third-country resettlement is conditioned not only by their institutional feasibility but by the political economy of host-state constraints. Through a qualitative structured comparison of the two episodes, the article develops the concept of constrained humanitarianism to explain how Bangladesh has calibrated humanitarian accommodation to economic capacity, security concerns, international pressure and domestic political and legal constraints. The comparison demonstrates a recurring pattern: expanded humanitarian protection can coexist with resistance to durable incorporation, while repatriation remains the principal long-term policy objective. This pattern suggests that durable-solution non-resolution is not simply an implementation deficit but can be reproduced through the interaction of host-state incentives and an international system in which protection costs remain concentrated nationally while responsibility-sharing remains uneven. The article therefore reframes durable-solution outcomes as politically mediated processes and highlights the structural importance of more equitable international responsibility-sharing.
In recent decades, the diaspora has been recognised as an important actor in the global development industry, not only because of the growing volume of remittances, but also because of the specific interest in their engagement by governments. Indeed, there has been a proliferation of initiatives and strategies to channel diaspora resources in the service of national development projects. However, the definitions of diaspora and the strategic approaches contained in the policy documents of various African governments seem to diverge from what has been highlighted by scholars over time. These divergences seem to open a space for an opportunistic and exclusionary conception of diaspora, with possible consequences at both theoretical and practical levels. This article draws on the recently launched diaspora engagement policies of some African countries to develop theoretical reflections that may be useful for the development of future studies and research on the topic.
The rapid adoption and expansion of digital and mobile technologies, financial technology and social media have transformed migration dynamics in Africa, influencing decision-making, integration, social networking and remittance transfers. The surge in the usage of smartphones, digital mobile apps, internet access, artificial intelligence and other information and communication technology has revolutionised remittance flows and information pathways, enhancing migrants’ socio-economic activities. Digital and mobile technologies, as well as social media, are not simply tools. They serve as vital lifelines, facilitating the flow of remittances to vulnerable communities and acting as powerful catalysts for promoting inclusive and sustainable development. Despite these advancements, the intersections between international migration, remittances, digital technology and social media remain under-researched in the Global South, including across Africa. This study employs a desktop research methodology, conducting an in-depth review of peer-reviewed articles, publications, policy documents and sources from online databases. This study examines both the opportunities and challenges within these evolving migration, social media and digital remittance landscapes. The findings highlight significant policy implications, advocating for a research and policy agenda that critically addresses the role of technology in shaping migration in Southern Africa. The study also suggests potential strategies for leveraging technology to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
Digital infrastructures have become important elements of the sociotechnical assemblages that mediate contemporary migration trajectories. Although digital platforms, tools and networks can be used to surveil and control migrants, they also afford migrants possibilities to self-organise, share information and navigate complex entry processes. This article examines the informal, digitally facilitated support used by health professionals in the process of migrating to Australia. Specifically, we examine the role of Facebook groups in mediating between aspiring migrants and the Australian skilled migration regime. We argue that these groups are both a response to the gaps and failures of the official migration processes and a significant part of the migration infrastructure (Xiang & Lindquist, 2014, International Migration Review , 48 , 122–148) shaping the im/mobility of (potential) migrant health workers. Through a systematic search and analysis of Facebook groups aimed at migrant health professionals, this article argues that such groups function as hybrid digital infrastructures blurring the boundaries between peer support networks and commercial brokerage. Our analysis demonstrates that while many of these groups are experienced as grassroots spaces of mutual aid, information-sharing and emotional support, they also serve as entry points for intermediaries (including migration agents, recruiters and tutors), who embed commercial services within the fabric of everyday interactions online.
