Origins, Paths and Migratory Desire

Why does someone choose to move to a new country? What do their motivations have to do with where they come from? My research on serial migration includes interviews with migrants from dozens of countries. Studying serial migrants is particularly illuminating with respect to understanding motivations for moving since with each move, new factors come into play: decisions to migrate change over the life-cycle and with experience. Case studies of individuals and families originally from Europe, France, the USA and North Africa to illustrate the way different projects, life-stages and geopolitical conditions lead them to decide to move or stay put. For those who are not forced from their homes by war, exile or famine love, religion, the opportunity to learn, political ideals, or proximity to or distance from one’s family may not be important factors: they go where they can. But for those whose migratory projects include some element of planning and choice, these factors are important. This comparison of serial migrants from varied origins demonstrates why scholars need to rethink the assumption that push/pull economics apply to people from developing countries while career building or a search for adventure are typical motivations of those from the Global North.