Sodade di Nhos Terra: The development potential of return migration to Cape Verde

International Development Planning Review (2010), 32, (3-4), 267–289.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2010.09
Language: English
Pages: 23

Abstract

Cape Verde has traditionally been a country of out-migration: approximately half a million people live in Cape Verde, while an estimated half a million nationals live overseas. Now, however, the country is undergoing economic development and consolidating its democratic status, and this is encouraging people to return. This article presents an overview of the policies and institutional arrangements aimed at stimulating return migration. In it, we evaluate the development potential by analysing the role of return migrants in bringing 'home' financial, human and social capital. Our focus is on three groups, namely traditional guest workers, younger labour migrants and young graduates who studied abroad. Other categories of returnees include 'descendants', highly skilled migrants who enrolled in 'virtual return of competences' schemes, and deportees. Given that return migration assumes multiple faces and dynamics, its impact back home is necessarily heterogeneous. There is a huge amount of return migration to Cape Verde, but according to our research, the development impact is rather limited. The reintegration of return migrants and their participation in the economic development of their country of origin demands concerted action. Rather than focusing on how to stimulate return migration, priority should be given to issues of investment and integration.

FormatArticle

£25.00

READ THIS ARTICLE

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

AGUNIAS, D. and NEWLAND, K. (2007), Circular Migration and Development: Trends, Policy Routes and Ways Forward, Migration Policy Institute, Policy Brief. Circular Migration and Development: Trends, Policy Routes and Ways Forward Google Scholar

AMMASSARI, S. (2004), 'From Nation building to entrepreneurship: the impact of elite return migrants in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana', Population, Place and Space, 10, 133–54. From Nation building to entrepreneurship: the impact of elite return migrants in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana Population, Place and Space 10 133 54 Google Scholar

BAKER, B. (2006), 'Cape Verde: the most democratic nation of Africa?' Journal of Modern African Studies, 44, 493–511. Cape Verde: the most democratic nation of Africa? Journal of Modern African Studies 44 493 511 Google Scholar

BARROS, J. (2008), A Integração dos Emigrantes no Sistema Político Cabo-verdiano, Praia, Instituto da Biblioteca Nacional e do Livro. A Integração dos Emigrantes no Sistema Político Cabo-verdiano Google Scholar

BLACK, R. and KING, R. (2004), 'Editorial introduction: Migration, return and development in West Africa', Population, Space and Place, 10, 75–83. Editorial introduction: Migration, return and development in West Africa Population, Space and Place 10 75 83 Google Scholar

CARREIRA, A. (1982), Migrações nas ilhas de Cabo Verde, Praia, Instituto Cabo-verdiano do Livro. Migrações nas ilhas de Cabo Verde Google Scholar

CARLING, J. (2004), 'Emigration, return and development in Cape Verde: the impact of closing borders', Population, Space and Place, 10, 113–32. Emigration, return and development in Cape Verde: the impact of closing borders Population, Space and Place 10 113 32 Google Scholar

CARLING, J. (2005), Migrant Remittances and Development Cooperation, Oslo, PRIO Report 1. Google Scholar

CARLING, J. (2008), Policy Challenges Facing Cape Verde in the Areas of Migration and Diaspora Contributions to Development, Oslo, PRIO. Policy Challenges Facing Cape Verde in the Areas of Migration and Diaspora Contributions to Development Google Scholar

CARLING, J. and BATALHA, L. (2008), 'Cape Verdean migration and diaspora', in L. Batalha and J. Carling (eds), Transnational Archipelago: Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora, Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Press, 13–31. 'Cape Verdean migration and diaspora' Transnational Archipelago: Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora 13 31 Google Scholar

CARVALHO, I. and SÁ, A. (2007), 'O retorno de emigrantes e o problema de reinserção em Cabo Verde', Revista de Geografia, 2, 121–35. O retorno de emigrantes e o problema de reinserção em Cabo Verde Revista de Geografia 2 121 35 Google Scholar

CASSARINO, J. (2004), 'Theorising return migration: the conceptual approach to return migrants revisited', International Journal on Multicultural Societies, 6, 253–79. Theorising return migration: the conceptual approach to return migrants revisited International Journal on Multicultural Societies 6 253 79 Google Scholar

CASTLES, S. and MILLER, M. (1998), The Age of Migration, Basingstoke, Macmillan. The Age of Migration Google Scholar

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2010), 'Joint Communiquè, EU – Cape Verde Political Dialogue Meeting at Ministerial Level', available at: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/er/112627.pdf Google Scholar

Google Scholar

DEPARLE, J. (2007), 'In a world on the move, a tiny land strains to cope', New York Times, 24 June. Google Scholar

GITTER, S., GITTER, R., SOUTHGATE, D. (2008), 'The impact of return migration to Mexico', Estudios Económicos, 23, 3–23. The impact of return migration to Mexico Estudios Económicos 23 3 23 Google Scholar

GMELCH, G. (1980), 'Return migration', Annual Review of Anthropology, 9, 135–59. Return migration Annual Review of Anthropology 9 135 59 Google Scholar

Google Scholar

HALTER, M. (2008), 'Cape Verdeans in the U.S.', in L. Batalha and J. Carling (eds), Transnational Archipelago: Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora, Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Press, 35–46. 'Cape Verdeans in the U.S.' Transnational Archipelago: Perspectives on Cape Verdean Migration and Diaspora 35 46 Google Scholar

Google Scholar

IPAD (INSTITUTO PORTUGUÊS DE APOIO AO DESENVOLVIMENTO) (2008), 'Projecto Centro de Apoio ao Migrante no País de Origem – CAMPO – Cabo Verde', available at: http://www.ipad.mne.gov.pt/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=523&Itemid=2 Google Scholar

Google Scholar

MCCORNICK, B. and WAHBA, J. (2001), 'Overseas work experience, savings and entrepreneurship amongst return migrants to LDCs', The Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 48, 164–78. Overseas work experience, savings and entrepreneurship amongst return migrants to LDCs The Scottish Journal of Political Economy 48 164 78 Google Scholar

Google Scholar

NEWLAND, K. and PATRICK, E. (2004), 'Beyond remittances: the role of diaspora in poverty reduction in their countries of origin', Migration Policy Institute, available at: www.migrationpolicy.org Google Scholar

OLESEN, H. (2002), 'Migration, return, and development: an institutional perspective', International Migration, 40, 125–50. Migration, return, and development: an institutional perspective International Migration 40 125 50 Google Scholar

SKELDON, R. (2008), 'International migration as a tool in development policy: a passing phase?' Population and Development Review, 34, 1–18. International migration as a tool in development policy: a passing phase? Population and Development Review 34 1 18 Google Scholar

THE ECONOMIST (2008), The Economist Intelligence Unit's Index of Democracy 2008. Google Scholar

TIEMOKO, r. (2004), 'Migration, return and socio-economic change in West Africa: the role of family', Population, Space and Place, 10, 155–74. Migration, return and socio-economic change in West Africa: the role of family Population, Space and Place 10 155 74 Google Scholar

Google Scholar

WAHBA, J. (2007), 'Returns to overseas work experience: the case of Egypt', in C. Özden and S. Maurice (eds), International Migration, Economic Development and Policy, Washington, DC, The World Bank and Palgrave Macmillan, 235–58. 'Returns to overseas work experience: the case of Egypt' International Migration, Economic Development and Policy 235 58 Google Scholar

WORLD BANK (2008), Cape Verde – country brief, available at: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/CAPEVERDEEXTN/0,,menuPK:349633∼pagePK:141132∼piPK:141107∼theSitePK:349623,00.html Google Scholar

Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here