On the Move: International Migration in Southeast Asia since the 1980s

Abstract

Migration has been a persistent theme in Southeast Asian labour history and migrants have been either permanent settlers or temporary residents. In the second half of the nineteenth-century migration coincided with European expansion into the region and was linked to economic development and labour market needs. Borders were porous, there was an empire-wide sourcing of labour, and migration regimes were relatively stable. Since the 1980s migration has predominantly comprised intra-Southeast Asian labour flows, is mediated by institutions and involves formal and informal channels. It has resulted in risks for specific categories of migrants and more stringent border controls by the state. Increasing global interdependence nevertheless, has created the conditions for international governance, and consequently, national policies are being shaped by, and respond to, the expanding global governance regime. Crucially, major international organisations such as the United Nations and its ancillary bodies both inform and direct themes in research and directions for policy.