Transnational caregiving in protracted humanitarian crisis migration: Syrian migrants in Switzerland and Venezuelan migrants in Chile and Peru

Protracted humanitarian crisis particularly affects the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. Due to insufficient social protection/public welfare services and based on negotiated rules of intergenerational solidarity, seniors rely on their families (especially women) for support and care. Crisis-induced “survival migration” creates transnational families and raises questions of care for parents remaining in the countries of origin. The fact that little is known about transnational caregiving strategies in the specific context of crisis-induced migration—or the gender dimensions involved in coordinating and performing such care—justifies the need for additional in-depth research to better understand this important subject. The project aims to investigate the perceptions and strategies of transnational care for elderly parents remaining in (crisis-affected) countries of origin, particularly focusing on gender, filial duty and reciprocity and how they structure care dynamics. By combining an intersectional approach with critical agency, subjectivities and individual strategies are conceptualized as interrelated within a broader context of structural inequality and power relations. The project focuses on two cases of protracted humanitarian crisis migration: Syrian migrants in Switzerland and Venezuelan migrants in Chile and Peru. These crisis-induced migratory flows can be read as “South-North” and “South-South” migration and constitute an ideal ground of comparison in the examination of transnational care dynamics.

The project aims to investigate the perceptions and strategies of transnational care for elderly parents remaining in (crisis-affected) countries of origin, particularly focusing on gender, filial duty and reciprocity and how they structure care dynamics. By combining an intersectional approach with critical agency, subjectivities and individual strategies are conceptualized as interrelated within a broader context of structural inequality and power relations.

The project focuses on two cases of protracted humanitarian crisis migration: Syrian migrants in Switzerland and Venezuelan migrants in Chile and Peru. These crisis-induced migratory flows can be read as “South-North” and “South-South” migration and constitute an ideal ground of comparison in the examination of transnational care dynamics.

Stage 1: Expected results include 3 analytical papers. The first 2 papers will present the results per case, in response to the research (sub)questions posed above. The third paper will present the results of a cross-sectional analysis of the two cases. Stage 2: Expected results include 5 analytical papers. The first 2 will present the results of the parents' point of view per case studied, in response the research questions posed above. The next 2 papers will present the results of the cross-sectional analysis contemplating the point of view of both parents and migrants. The fifth paper will present the results of the cross-sectional analysis of the two cases.

The proposed research will produce original findings that will inform the future design and implementation of undergraduate, master or doctoral-level courses and academic programs at partner universities, as well as in the field of continuing education for professionals and other actors related to issues of migration in protracted humanitarian crises, care and gender. Results are expected to impact public policies and support systems (e.g., social work) addressing migration, caregiving and family dynamics, both within and across relevant countries (Chile, Peru, Switzerland). The project builds on and deepens existing South-South/South-North academic networks by proposing further cooperation between HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland School of Social Work Fribourg (Switzerland), OST-Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland), the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP, Peru), the University of Tarapacá (Chile) and the Catholic University Silva Henríquez (Chile).

Investigacion basica

Disciplinario

ADMINISTRADO

LIMA - LIMA - SAN MIGUEL

• 94 — Procesos y actores sociales

Ciencias sociales - Sociología - Temas sociales

HAUTE ÉCOLE DE TRAVAIL SOCIAL FRIBOURG HOCHSCHULE FÜR SOZIALE ARBEIT FREIBURG