Volume 14, 2005

Issue N. 4

Joon K. Kim

"State, Civil Society and International Norms: Expanding the Political and Labor Rights of Foreigners in South Korea," Vol. 14 (4), pp. 383-418, 2005

This paper examines the dynamic role of the state, civil society groups and international conventions in expanding the rights of foreigners in South Korea. While recent scholarship on international migration reflects a growing gap between post-national and state-centered theories, the South Korean case illustrates the dynamic interplay of actors involved in major policy developments concerning interethnic marriages, citizenship, and the temporary foreign worker program. Although the challenges of adopting additional UN and ILO Conventions remain, the passage of the Nationality Act and the Employment Permit System reflects a steady expansion of political and labor rights for foreigners. The increasing number of foreigners marrying Koreans and the strong prospect of long-term dependence on foreign workers accentuate even more the significance of these changes. This paper shows that the expansion of foreigner rights depends on the liberal position of the state, the organizational strength of NGOs, and the system of checks-and-balances structurally embedded in the way the state parties and NGOs cooperate in implementing international instruments.
 

Massimiliano Tani
"On the Motivations of Business Travel: Evidence from an Australian Survey," Vol. 14 (4), pp. 419-440, 2005
 

This paper presents the results of a survey of international business travelers to and from Australia carried out at Sydney Airport in May 2003 to understand the motivations underlying business travel. Data gathered from a sample of 210 business travelers indicate that knowledge sharing is a very common motivation to undertake a business trip while boosting sales is the least common. Business trips emerge as a mechanism to access, develop and transfer knowledge internationally, and possibly affect a country’s ability to innovate.
 

Raelyn Esau
"Tongan Immigrants in New Zealand,"Vol. 14 (4), pp. 441-466, 2005
 

This study sought to shed light on the experiences of Tongan immigrants in New Zealand. Three major areas were explored: the migration decision-making process, socio-economic changes in the host country, and transnational networks with Tonga. With respect to migration decision-making, the nuclear family plays an important role as the final decision-making unit. Family-related reasons, jobs, and study were the typical reasons for migration to New Zealand. Regarding socio-economic changes, the immigrants’ income tends to increase as their duration of stay in New Zealand lengthens. Most of them work at blue-collar jobs. Many immigrants who were unmarried at the time of migration married after moving to New Zealand, mostly to other Tongans. The church serves as a critical support system for the immigrants. Tongans tend to prefer permanent residency visas over New Zealand citizenship. Remittances continue to play an important role in immigrants’ links to Tonga, as do communication with family members and visits to Tonga. Despite these continuing links with their home country, most of the immigrants do not wish to return to Tonga permanently.
 

Liangni Liu
"New Zealand's Changing Attitudes Towards Asian Immigration, 1999-2004," Vol. 14 (4), pp. 467-485, 2005

This study surveys and analyzes articles related to Asian immigration and immigrants published in two leading New Zealand publications, the Listener and the National Business Review (NBR), during the period of 1999-2004. It found that articles in both publications reflected changing attitudes of the public towards Asian immigration and immigrants. The NBR is supportive of Asian immigration because it believes that the financial and human capital brought in by Asian immigrants are important to the nation’s economy. The Listener is more cautious because it is more concerned about the societal impacts caused by the Asian immigrant influx. However, the Listener is sympathetic towards refugees, accepting the economic and social strain they may bring while the NBR strongly opposes the admission of refugees because they may become an economic burden to New Zealand.

RESEARCH NOTE
 

Aswini Kumar Nanda
"Immigration from Bangladesh to India Based on Census Data," Vol. 14 (4), pp. 487-499, 2005

Census data for the years 1981, 1991 and 2001 were analyzed to measure documented population flows from Bangladesh to India and to describe their distribution and stay in India. The limitations of census data as a source of information on international migration are explained. As of 2001, there were 3.1 million and 3.7 million Bangladeshis in India; these are based on place of last residence and place of birth, respectively. The East and Northeast regions received 97 percent of Bangladeshis for the period 1981 to 2001. They also tend to stay for a long period of time in their areas of arrival.
 

BOOK REVIEW
 

Jude McCulloch
"Bin Laden in the Suburbs: Criminalising the Arab Other," by S. Poynting, G. Noble, P. Tabar and J. Collins, Vol. 14 (4), pp. 501-503, 2005