Migration Narratives from Origin and Destination Country Perspectives

This working paper describes the multiple policy narratives advocated by origin and destination countries. It questions how migration is narrated and which perspectives are dominant to understand policy and political narratives. It argues that as narratives are developed and negotiated with the plethora of actors operating at the local, national, and global levels, they emerge as highly complex phenomena. A mapping of migration studies illustrates the presence of various immigration and emigration narratives that range from those supporting migration to those seeking to constrain it as well as in-between narratives. These narratives have impact on policies. Also, individual migration narratives offer more nuanced understanding of immigration and emigration experiences.