This thesis examines the complex power structures that underscore the migration and employment of Indonesian women as foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore. The main objective is to highlight the power of individual Indonesian FDWs and the collective power of these women in negotiating these structures of power in the context of a migration study as well as a `resistance' study. I argue that Indonesian FDWs are active agents who exercise individual agency and collective `resistance' in the migration system. As labour migrants they exert power in shaping the nature of the migrant institution. One of the means in which they do so is by perpetuating the informal networks of migration. Individual Indonesian FDWs are also capable of exerting power in circumventing elements of exploitation and domination they encounter during their migration process and employment in Singapore. Crucial to this capability is the ability to have access to a network of agents within the migrant institution. Some Indonesian FDWs are also active in exerting power as a group to present a collective resistance against negative stereotyping of their identities as the immigrant other in Singapore. They do so via a formal religious based social group. This group encourages other Indonesian FDWs to portray the image of the disciplined worker couched within the moralising discourse of Islam by participating in productive activities on rest days. The aim of this is so that Indonesian FDWs can be treated with respect and dignity in Singapore. In general, my data show that Indonesian FDWs as active agents of the migration system do not attempt to challenge the overall structures that underscore their subordination and domination as overseas contract workers (OCWs) in Singapore. / The power exerted by individual Indonesian FDWs is focused at ensuring their continued employment as FDWs under more desirable employment conditions. Their individual agency aimed at improving their work conditions is at a personal level and is based on personal goals that are thus too fragmented to challenge the institutionalised structures of employment. Moreover, my case studies reveal that some Indonesian FDWs endure more restrictive work conditions in order to achieve desirable aspects of working in Singapore. Their collective `resistance' against condescending treatment by the host society project an image of the disciplined FDWs desired by employers, maid agents and Singaporeans. Their subjective ambivalence and the ambivalence in their individual and collective acts of `resistance' in challenging aspects of subordination and domination show the complexity of the power relationships in which they are caught. I draw upon two bodies of theory to provide a framework for my analysis and argument. First, I draw upon the `migrant institution' framework espoused by Goss and Lindquist (1995) that is based on Giddens' structuration theory to illustrate the power exerted by individual Indonesian FDWs within the field of migration studies. I also draw upon Foucault's notion of power as a framework to examine collective ,resistance' displayed by Indonesian FDWs in Singapore. The data presented in the thesis are drawn from two sources, ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Singapore as well as relevant newspaper and other media accounts.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / This thesis examines the distribution of African migrants across the different segments of the labour force in South Africa. The specific objective of this study is to demonstrate that there has been structural changes from 2001 to 2011 in the deployment of African immigrants in terms of occupation, employment sector, income groups just to name a few. Studies that have been recorded using the 2001 population census suggest that the South African labour market attracts majority of African migrants that are not highly qualified. The proposed study makes use of the 2011 population census to evaluate the extent to which the situation has changed or whether it remained the same between the two periods. The assumption underlying this study is that, over time the magnitude of qualified migrants has improved. As far as African migration is concerned, to capture the structural changes during the ten-year period (2001 to 2011) this study focuses on variables such as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. To profile changes in the participation of African migrants, this study makes use of the 2001 and 2011 national population census data. Furthermore, statistical packages are used to test the relationship between variables. Policy document about migration are also used to provide the legislated framework with regards to the involvement of foreign labour in the South African labour force. The geographical scope of the study is national meaning it covers all nine provinces of South Africa.

Before the crisis Catalonia and the rest of Spain received high volumes of immigration - of which much was 'illegal'. This was despite formally strict controls - EU policy - and different governments in Madrid claiming to operate a legal model of migration - leading to identification of a 'policy paradox'. In the same period immigration became problematized, which in Catalonia allowed xenophobic politics to gain popular support - despite being a territory proactive at integrating newcomers. This research aimed to identify the undercurrents of these contradictions and respond to questions on the relative impact of business, state, national and electoral factors. It surveys literature on migration paradoxes and theories, develops an original conceptual framework by critically assessing a range of radical writing, performs quantitative and secondary study of the Catalan, Spanish and European economic and policy contexts (in general and regarding immigration), and analyses findings from interviews with privileged 'insiders' and observers (employers, union leaders, migrant activists and policy advisors). Policy contradictions and the problematization of immigration were identified as rooted firstly in the inherent contradictions of the capitalist state. States must ensure availability of new reserves of labour to guarantee accumulation and make savings by not having to 'socially reproduce' 'imported' labour power. Yet their abstract national and bounded character propels constant nationcraft - a process best performed invisibly and negatively by symbolically and practically excluding migrants from territory, rights and citizenship. Dynamics are further driven by the desire to be seen to preserve the 'rule of law' and guarantee the exclusivity of national 'social contracts'. Nation-building in policymaking was detected by uncovering the national-linguistic considerations behind the controversial drive to devolve immigration powers to Catalonia. Mushrooming irregularity was a result of migrant agency and the restrictive tendencies of the Aznar administration and EU. Despite the Popular Party (and EU) being notably pro-business, tensions emerged with employers who lobbied alongside unions to bring about the liberalisations introduced by the Zapatero government (2004-2011). Employers benefit from the (continued) institutional conditioning of migrant labour and irregular hiring has been tolerated - aided by a relatively informal and insecure labour market. Yet it is a mistake to see high levels irregularity simply as labour policy. The unequal and instrumental nature of European integration meant the Spanish State played a border policing role that threatened its labour needs before the crisis. This led to political 'fudge' based on varying models of irregularity-amnesty-irregularity, and reinforced pro-European and Hispanist migrant recruitment tendencies. Changes in government have reshaped policymaking (and increased or decreased related tensions) but less-democratic influences were identified in interviews and a clear political economy of immigration can be identified.

Magister Artium - MA / This thesis explores the different ways in which labour migrants in contemporary South Africa make use of cell phones in their daily lives to maintain their love relationships. I start by tracing the history of labour migration and show how the gradual change of migration has played a role in the assertion of labour migrants in their communities in Cape Town. I look specifically into the use of cell phone by Setswana and Sesotho speaking migrants in Delft, Thornton, Brackenfell and Gugulethu. While the focus of the research is on the role of cell phones in maintaining love relationships between migrants and the partners they left behind ‘at home’, I also show how the negotiation of the cell phone in the social lives of migrants helps build wider social networks. The value of the functions of the cell phone through employed communication patterns that encourage social relations and interactions are also the focus of this thesis.

Магистерская диссертация посвящена исследованию вопросов формирования этнических анклавов мигрантского типа на принимающей территории. Актуальность данной темы исследования обуславливается тем, что потоки трудовых мигрантов и членов их семей в современную Россию увеличиваются, стимулируя процессы анклавизации. Это является крайне нежелательным явлением для принимающего общества и самих мигрантов, препятствуя их интеграции в российское общество. В работе выявлены и проанализированы негативные последствия процессов анклаватизации на территориях мегаполисов. Научная новизна исследования заключается в разработке методики оценки миграционно привлекательных территорий мегаполиса, которая включает в себя выбор показателей и критериев оценивания, разработку больной системы и ранжирование микрорайонов. Основой для выделения критериев оценки миграционно привлекательных микрорайонов служит анализ научных источников и экспертный опрос специалистов, занимающихся вопросами миграции. Уровень степени согласованности мнений экспертов оценен посредством расчета коэффициента вариации и коэффициента конкордации (коэффициент Кендалла). Также в магистерской диссертации разработан и апробирован подход к оценке процессов аклаватизации через изучение численности детей-мигрантов в школах города. Для сбора эмпирических данных в работе активно применяются ГИС-технологии. Предложенная методика апробирована на данных г. Екатеринбурга. Магистерская диссертация представляет интерес для лиц, занимающихся вопросами международной миграции, и может быть полезно для формирования инструментов проведения миграционной политики и развития городской среды. / This Master's dissertation is dedicated to a research of forming of migration type ethnical enclaves in a host region. Relevance of this topic is determined by the fact of increased flow of migrant workers and their families in modern Russia stimulates the process of enclavisation. This is highly undesirable fact for locals in the host region and for migrants themselves, because of their difficulties with integration in Russian society. There were been discovered and analysed negative consequences of enclavisation process in the territories of metropolises. Scientific novation of this research is a development of methods which can be used to assess migratory attractive areas of metropolis. These methods include a selection of indicators and criteria of assessment, development of bigger system and ranging of microdistricts. To emphasize criteria of assessment of migratory attractive areas there is a basis - an analysis of scientific origins and an expert survey of specialists, who are involved into research of migration issues. Measure of coherent experts' views is assessed by calculation of variations and concordance multipliers (Candall multiplier). Also in this Master's dissertation there is a method of aclavatization processes assessment through a research of migrants' children in city schools was developed and tested. GIS-technologies are actively used to gather empirical data. Offered methods were tested at Yekaterinburg city data. Specialists who are involved into a work on international migration may be interested in this Master's disseration, which may be useful also for migratory policy and development of city environment.