Renato Johnsson | University of Gothenburg (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Renato Johnsson

This paper examines how transnational migration, understood as cross-border social fields formed ... more This paper examines how transnational migration, understood as cross-border social fields formed by migrants with their community of origin, impacts on the contours of liberal democratic citizenship. I examine citizenship in terms of membership, rights and identity and I focus on the normative argument made by liberal political philosophers regarding the appropriate response to immigration by the receiving state and contrast this with the notion of transnational migration. This finds that the liberal prescription of facilitating their access to membership of the polity commonly misunderstands what transnational migration actually is, i.e. the ongoing allegiance of emigrants to their communities of origin. This situation places strain on the hyphen between the nation and the state. In the receiving country the liberal argument calls for citizenship to emphasize the individual's relation with the state where they reside and to downplay the national dimension. From the perspective of the sending country the opposite holds true, transnational migration is based on the notion of citizenship as membership of a nation –even when the individual is absent from the state's territorial borders. Transnational migration thus brings out the disjuncture between the notions of citizenship and nationality. This paper explores how the contours of liberal democratic citizenship are affected by the transnational dimension of contemporary migration. There have been two distinct areas in which the term 'transnational' has been applied to citizenship in political philosophy, the first involves normative discussions on the liberal democratic response to the presence of foreign nationals in the national polity, and this is what this paper concentrates on. The other dimension is not directly concerned with migration and instead enquires about citizenship under conditions of globalization (Held 1999, Slaughter and Hudson 2007) as well as cosmopolitanism (Linklater 1999). I will discuss the normative debate on how citizenship policies should accommodate immigration and how transnational migration impacts on the notion of citizenship. Concordantly my research questions have been: how does transnational migration apply to the concept of citizenship –in both receiving and sending countries? Following this, what dimension of citizenship is brought to the fore? This study has undertaken a text analysis of academic material in English using the keywords citizenship and transnational migration. A notable limitation is that these studies concentrate exclusively on the receiving countries of the Western world, although the ongoing role played by the countries of origin is a defining facet of transnational migration studies (Basch et al. 1994, Levitt et al. 2003). Unfortunately, no studies were found from developing countries that focused on how their nationals abroad impact on notions of citizenship. The ontological position of this paper is the continuous

Estudio para la Organization International del Trabajo en Mexico que examina el fenómeno de las m... more Estudio para la Organization International del Trabajo en Mexico que examina el fenómeno de las migraciones en el estado de Chiapas, México. Incluye la emigración de chiapanecos; la immigración laboral en chiapas, en particular para trabajar la cosecha, y las migraciones de tránsito. Hay enfoque sobre las actiones de parte del gobierno estatal para regular estos fenómenos.

This paper revisits the concept of migrant transnationalism. I review how the concept emerged and... more This paper revisits the concept of migrant transnationalism. I review how the concept emerged and highlight which dimensions were subsequently developed in the literature. I also consider the notion of 'diaspora' and suggest that it provides an important heuristic tool. I examine the literature on transnationalism and integration and propose that while the literature on transnational social fields has developed an effective model for examining migrants' experiences that enables scholars to move away from 'container' notions of society, it has limited applicability in terms of second generation immigrants. This paper then suggest a research path that moves away from the duality of sending and receiving localities to instead consider the impact of the global on the local. I end by suggesting how a 'transnational spectrum' could help us map how the transnational dimension of everyday life impacts on identity-formation and integration people of immigrant background

Este estudio destaca la relevancia del sitio arqueológico preclásico de Izapa, en Chiapas, México... more Este estudio destaca la relevancia del sitio arqueológico preclásico de Izapa, en Chiapas, México, para el turismo cultural. Esto se debe a su fuerte conexión con el calendario de 260 días, que es la pieza clave del espiritualismo maya contemporáneo, y también posibles conexiones con los mitos de la creación del Popol Vuh. Nuestro estudio, realizado entre 2011 y comienzos de 2014, examina los obstáculos al desarrollo turístico que el sitio ha enfrentado durante estos años. La investigación incluye un estudio sobre la popularidad que el sitio adquirió en el periodo previo al “fin del calendario maya” en diciembre de 2012 y los eventos que fueron organizados. También incluye un estado del arte comprehensivo de los estudios arqueológicos hechos sobre el sitio. Finalmente sugerimos maneras para desarrollar el sitio para hacerlo más atractivo al turismo cultural.

This study highlights the relevance of the Late Formative period archaeological site of Izapa, in... more This study highlights the relevance of the Late Formative period archaeological site of Izapa, in Chiapas, Mexico, for cultural tourism. This is possible due to the site's strong links to the 260 day calendar, which is the cornerstone of contemporary Maya spirituality, and also possible links to the Maya creation mythology of the Popol Vuh. Our study, conducted between 2011 and early 2014, examines the obstacles to tourism development that this site has encountered over this period. The study includes an examination of the popularity the site gained in the run up to the “end of the Maya calendar” in December 2012 and the events which were organized in relation to this date. A comprehensive literature review of the archaeological research done on the site is also included. Finally we suggest ways in which to develop the site in order to make it more attractive to cultural tourism.

This paper provides a novel paradigm for understanding circular migration flows and their effects... more This paper provides a novel paradigm for understanding circular migration flows and their effects on employment. Circular migration flows are sustained by transnational networks and a positive migratory experience results in growth of individual’s human, social and financial capital. An enabling business environment, in both home and host countries, is required in order to capitalize on the entrepreneurial potential of people who are involved in circular migration flows. This includes migrants, returning migrants and children of migrants. We discuss both pecuniary and non-pecuniary flows and consider its relevance from both a sending and receiving country perspective. The paper is based in research undertaken in two sub-regions, the Southern African sub-region and the border region of Southern Mexico, both which highlight the employment potential created through cross border buyers and traders

This article proposes a development program to increase tourism to the archaeological site of Iza... more This article proposes a development program to increase tourism to the archaeological site of Izapa in the Tuxtla Chico municipality, which lies along the Southern border of Mexico in the state Chiapas. This proposal is based on a cultural tourism development model based on two principles. The first is that the local community is assisted in maximising economic gains through local economic development. The second involves campaigns to ensure that the local community be aware of the cultural and historical context of their location. Section A of this article explains how this model can be applied to Izapa, section B provides an explanation on the cultural importance of Izapa and its relevance to the 2012 Maya calendar end-date, and section C provides suggestions for a cultural tourism program and is based on field work conducted on-site for nine days in March 2011.

This paper proposes that non-temporary circular migration creates and sustains 'circular migratio... more This paper proposes that non-temporary circular migration creates and sustains 'circular migration flows', which are the outcome of the continuous interaction between sending and receiving countries that is created and sustained by migration and by transnational networks. Circular migration creates both pecuniary and non-pecuniary flows, which are conducive to enterprise creation and development. A positive migratory experience will see an individual increase his or her financial, human and social capital, and this facilitates entrepreneurial activities in both home and host countries, including fostering trade linkages between sending and receiving countries. Hence this paradigm help us consider how migration can stimulate employment. This paper considers this premise with reference to the Southern African sub-region.

Thesis Chapters by Renato Johnsson

Since the mid-1990s entrepreneurship has been actively promoted by the Swedish government as a me... more Since the mid-1990s entrepreneurship has been actively promoted by the Swedish government as a means for labour market integration of its immigrant population. My thesis investigates how this is operationalized, in terms of the institutional actors that facilitate the self-employment initiatives of the unemployed, and the impact that the regulatory environment, that governs starting and running a business, has on immigrant entrepreneurship. This seek to determine the actual extent to which entrepreneurship is promoted as a means for the labour market integration of immigrants.
My research focus is not on existing immigrant enterprises but rather on entrepreneurial entry, the decision to attempt to start a business, and on nascent entrepreneurs, people in the process of setting up a business. My qualitative research methods involved a process of participant observation; I myself experienced the process through which an unemployed immigrant learns about the institutional and regulatory framework facilitating immigrant entrepreneurship. This was complimented with structured interviews with agencies who are in contact with such nascent entrepreneurs as part of their everyday work. This includes the employment office, the tax authority, the city of Malmö and four business support agencies.
The thesis finds that entrepreneurship is not considered a primary form of labour market incorporation by the public employment service. However, there is significant institutional support facilitating the option of self-employment. These are open to all, which reflects the principal of equality that underpins Sweden’s integration policy, and this does play an important role enabling immigrant entrepreneurship. There is also specific government support targeted to immigrants. This thesis differentiates between immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurs, and that migrants face particular hindrances that ethnic minority entrepreneurs do not, and describes how the regulatory environment impacts on the entrepreneurial initiatives of immigrants in Malmö.