Migration in the age of involuntary immobility: Theoretical reflections and Cape Verdean experiences
Open accessAbstract
Our times are characterised by involuntary immobility as much as by large migration flows. The sheer number of people wishing to migrate but not being able to do so indicates that migration must be analysed in the light of restrictive immigration policies. This article suggests that insights can be gained by addressing the aspiration and ability to migrate separately. On the basis of a case study of emigration from Cape Verde, the article first examines how aspirations are formed in the interplay between people's individual characteristics and their common emigration environment. It then proceeds to investigate how potential migrants' ability to migrate is determined in their encounter with the immigration interface. This involves a series of barriers and constraints which each potential migrant is differently equipped to overcome. The aspiration/ability model is proposed as a framework for analyses of migration and non-migration at a time when mobility itself has become an important stratifying factor.
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Individuals will migrate if they have migration aspirations and at the same time have the capability to move.
“Theoretically, I base my argument on the aspirations-capabilities framework: Individuals will migrate if they have migration aspirations and at the same time have the capability to move (Carling 2002; Carling and Schewel 2018; de Haas 2021).”
From Trapped by climate change? (In)voluntary immobility in Bangladesh (2025) · cites this paper as Carling 2002
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“Still others may desire to leave but lack the ability to do so, becoming “trapped” or “involuntarily immobile” (Carling, 2002; Black et al., 2011; Zickgraf, 2021).”
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“Specifically, I draw upon two main theoretical frameworks: First, the aspirations-capabilities framework posits that people migrate if they possess both aspirations to migrate and the capability to realize this move (Carling, 2002; Carling & Collins, 2018; Carling & Schewel, 2018; de Haas, 2021).”
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Trapped by climate change? (In)voluntary immobility in Bangladesh
Freihardt, J. (2025) · Regional Environmental Change · doi:10.1007/s10113-025-02452-3 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Theoretically, I base my argument on the aspirations-capabilities framework: Individuals will migrate if they have migration aspirations and at the same time have the capability to move (Carling 2002; Carling and Schewel 2018; de Haas 2021).”
Rethinking transnational parenting: Chinese immigrant parents’ family separation during COVID-19
Wu, M., & del Rey Poveda, A. (2025) · Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies · doi:10.1080/1369183x.2025.2455434 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Carling, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Carling, J⊘rgen
- ORCID
- Carling, J⊘rgen
- Venue
- Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2002-01
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-42
- ISSN
- 1369-183X (ISSN-L)
- 1469-9451
- OpenAlex
- W2168557858
- Cited by
- 1,134
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 134 · 2025: 164 · 2024: 97 · 2023: 110 · 2022: 101 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 76 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 26.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- papers.ssrn.com
- Locations
- Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (publishedVersion)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Refugees, and Integration
- Social Sciences › Demography › Diaspora, migration, transnational identity
- Keywords
- involuntary immobility, migration aspirations, restrictive immigration policy, migration barriers, non-migration
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