Migration Diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa: Power, Mobility, and the State

Description

This book provides the first systematic examination of the foreign policy importance of migration across the Middle East and North Africa. Focusing on a key region of the Global South, the book explores how migrants, refugees, and diaspora groups have featured in the diplomatic strategies of numerous Arab states since independence. The study adds a missing component to our understanding of power politics and will be of use to students of international relations and Middle East politics. Its timely analysis of migration into, out of, and across the modern Middle East will also interest readers seeking to understand the politics behind current 'migration crises.'

Gerasimos Tsourapas is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow -- .

'Tsourapas has produced a deeply-researched, beautifully written and thought-provoking addition to the burgeoning literature on migration diplomacy. His book is a must-read text for anyone interested in the study of migration, diasporic mobilization and the politics of the MENA region.' Kelly M. Greenhill, Research Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University 'In recent years, the migratory patterns of the Middle East and North Africa have become much more multi-faceted and complex due to expanding globalisation, emerging wars and conflicts, changing labour markets, and developing transnational networks and diasporas. Within this context, referring to the concept of migration diplomacy, Gerasimos Tsourapas's book provides us with a fascinating analytical framework and argues that the politics of migratory movements can be better understood when looked at through the lens of migration diplomacy: therefore, one must emphasise the unique significance of this book, not only for the scholars working on the MENA region, but also for a wider audience of those interested in the politics of migration globally.' Ahmet Icduygu, Professor of International Relations and Sociology, Koc University 'In this outstanding contribution to scholarship on the politics of migration, Gerasimos Tsourapas shows how migration policies in the Global South are shaped by power and interests. Based on rich historical research, Migration diplomacy unveils the range of strategies used by Middle Eastern and North African states to link human mobility to broader political goals.' Alexander Betts, Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs, University of Oxford 'Migration diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa combines the extensive previous work of Tsourapas, offering a consolidated source for scholars and students of the politics of migration, regional mobility, diaspora studies, international relations, and of course, migration diplomacy. After readers gain detailed knowledge about the case studies, Tsourapas does not leave them doubting the scope and generalizability of the findings. The brief conclusion brilliantly presents dozens of pertinent examples of how similar migration diplomacy strategies have played out across the world, from China to Chile, from Cuba to Congo, Sudan to the Soviet Union. Such a sweeping global and temporal view conveys the tremendous insights that Tsourapas crafted throughout the book.' Victoria Finn, International Migration -- .