The Developmental Migration State in East Asia: Towards Policy Convergence?

Panel Code
RC46.23
Type
Closed Panel
Language
English
Co-chair
Discussants
Description

Since the late 20th century, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have all expanded and diversified their migration policies in response to demographic and labor market pressures. Despite distinct but deeply entwined institutional dynamics and historical legacies, this panel examines the drastic similarities observed in recent migration trends, asking: are the three countries converging towards a developmental migration state, defined by a proliferation of different statuses each linked to specific performance and demographic criteria? Chien discusses Taiwan鈥檚 new 鈥渕id-skilled workers program鈥, examining the state鈥檚 interventions on the concept of skill to justify new pathways to residency for migrants in certain industries. Chen, meanwhile, opens the 鈥榖lack box鈥 of the state to show how the Taiwanese state鈥檚 organizational structure leads to ministries pursuing uncoordinated and sometimes conflicting policies towards migrants. Meanwhile, Lee looks towards programs aimed at some of the most highly privileged migrants, showing how Korea鈥檚 immigration by investment program survived serious political challenges. Due to jus sanguinis citizenship policies, all three countries are also home to multigenerational communities facing exclusion and conditional access to rights. Centering the subjects most affected, Silverman presents fieldwork examining the attachments and aspirations of children of immigrants (COI) in Japan. Finally, Tian uses the case of revisions to Japan鈥檚 guestworker regime to look at how policy changes have impacted the activities and orientations of civil society actors, some of the most active proponents for migrants鈥 rights in all three countries.

Onsite Presentation Language
Same as proposal language
Panel ID
PL-8802