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Smart(phone) travelling: understanding the use and impact of mobile technology on irregular migration journeys
Abstract
This article analyses how mobile technology impacts on irregular migrants' journeys. It is based on trajectory ethnography with 11 Afghan, Iranian and Syrian migrants whom the first author met in Turkey and Greece in the spring of 2015. These migrants were followed (partly digitally) to Serbia, Hungary, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. We argue that the method of trajectory ethnography is a useful tool that allows us to understand how mobile technology shapes and facilitate parts of the journey - like, for example, decisions on routes and modes of travel, final destinations and the financing of irregular migration. This methodology leads to a more nuanced understanding of irregular migration because it enables us to capture the complex dynamics involved in irregular migration processes and to reflect on decisions taken within the process.
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“Smartphones are of crucial importance to Syrian refugees [24] who often demonstrate high levels of technological literacy [25].”
From Effects of a self-guided digital mental health self-help intervention for Syrian refugees in Egypt: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [24]
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Azhar, F., Vannini, S., Newell, B. C., & Gómez, R. (2021) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781839100611.00016
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Gougsa, S. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-94122-2_8
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Kosnick, K. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-20772-4_14
Herva, V., Hakonen, A., Norum, R., et al. (2025) · Arctic encounters · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-85016-5_5
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de Luna, R. R., & Kryg, I.-C. (2025) · Palgrave studies in communication for social change · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-00465-9_9
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TikTok Trails: Decoding Human Smugglers’ Narratives in Migration Advertising
Achilli, L., Massari, A., & Abdelrahman, M. N. S. (2026) · Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies · doi:10.1080/15562948.2026.2708113
Coddington, K. (2026) · Environment and Planning C Politics and Space · doi:10.1177/23996544261477754
Van’daki İranlı Göçmenlerin Sınır Aşan Ağları ve Ağın Göç Sürecindeki Rolü
Uğurlu, C., & Deniz, O. (2026) · Turkish Journal of Diaspora Studies · doi:10.52241/tjds.1943850
Metadata
- Authors
- Zijlstra, J., & Liempt, I. V.
- Affiliations
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Venue
- International Journal of Migration and Border Studies
- Publisher
- Inderscience Publishers
- Published
- 2017
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2/3
- Pages
- 174
- ISSN
- 1755-2419 (ISSN-L)
- 1755-2427
- OpenAlex
- W4244196866
- Cited by
- 125
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 35.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Migration and Border Studies (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Exile Studies
- Social Sciences › Demography › Diaspora, migration, transnational identity
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Refugees, and Integration
- Keywords
- irregular migration, mobile technology, migrant journeys, digital ethnography, route choice, migration financing, Afghan migrants, Iranian immigrants, Syrian migrants, 2015 refugee crisis, Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands
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