Remittances are now more than three times larger than aid flows to
countries in the global South and constitute a rapidly growing source of
development finance. Yet barriers to both entry and the right to work within
Northern countries mean that their full potential is not being realised, with
refugees and migrants from many Southern countries meeting significant
blockages in their efforts to build new lives and livelihoods in their new homes.
In this Viewpoint, I argue that we, as development educators, need to challenge
and question the inconsistencies and hypocrisy underpinning national and
international attitudes and policies which purport to assist Southern people
through aid programmes, yet restrict these same people’s agency to seek
employment elsewhere and assist their home communities directly. If handled
justly and more openly, the so-called migrant ‘crisis’ represents an opportunity to
move away from patronising charity stereotypes which perpetuate Northern
‘saviour complexes’ to more equitable, economically sustainable relationships
North and South.
Ireland ->
Dublin City University ->
Subject = Social Sciences: Globalization
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Dublin City University ->
Publication Type = Article
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Dublin City University ->
Status = Published
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Dublin City University ->
DCU Faculties and Centres = DCU Faculties and Schools: Faculty of Humanities and Social Science: School of Law and Government
Ireland ->
Dublin City University ->
Subject = Social Sciences: Migration