Twice migrants
Twice migrants refer to individuals or groups who migrate from their place of origin to a new location, and then move again to a third location. This phenomenon has gained attention particularly among South Asian populations who migrate through non-South Asian countries to destinations like the United Kingdom. The concept highlights the complex nature of migration patterns, where cultural identities can evolve through experiences in multiple countries. For instance, groups such as Sikhs who initially settled in East Africa before relocating to the UK illustrate how cultural characteristics can develop across different settings.
The rise in twice migration can be attributed to factors such as globalization, economic opportunities, climate change, and shifting political landscapes. This trend is not limited to any one demographic; it encompasses various groups, including skilled workers, students, and refugees who resettle in multiple countries. Twice migrants may experience distinct cultural identities shaped by their journeys and can establish transnational ties that reflect their diverse backgrounds. Understanding this migration pattern is essential for appreciating the multifaceted experiences of individuals navigating multiple cultural landscapes in our increasingly interconnected world.
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Twice migrants
Migration is the physical movement of people within a social system. Sociologists have studied migration by examining emigration and immigration—what pushes people to leave their homeland (emigrate) and what pulls people to enter a new culture and country (immigrate). In the latter part of the twentieth century, more complex approaches to migration emerged as a result of the growing diaspora of workers. For example, international demands for labor and the shift of capital across national boundaries increased the rate of multiple migration. In these cases, a population migrates from its place of origin to a new location, followed by a second migration to a third location. The population may acquire cultural characteristics from each location along the way.
Scholar Parminder Bhachu examined a group of Asians of Sikh origin who first migrated to East Africa and then to the United Kingdom. In Africa, this group formed settled communities and shared experiences as Asians of Sikh origin. They also developed a strong East African identity, which was later reproduced in the United Kingdom. Thus, this Asian group created ties in more than one nation or culture through multiple migrations. Although the term "twice migrants" is typically applied to groups of South Asian origin that come to the United Kingdom through a non-South Asian country, it may be applied to any group with a similar experience. An increasing number of people migrate not just once or twice but even three times to various countries. Multiple migration is not a new phenomenon; however, it has become more common among migrant workers from Third World countries.
The concept of twice migrants expanded in the twenty-first century as climate change, globalization, increased mobility, and economic and political situations increased migration among groups. Twice migration patterns were found in refugees who first fled to neighboring countries before resettling in a third location. Skilled workers often moved between countries for job opportunities. Students who moved to a country to study abroad and then to a third country for work and people from former colonies who migrated to the former colonial power and then to other countries were also considered twice migrants.
Bibliography
Agrawal, Sandeep Kumar. "Twice Migrants in Canada: Who Are They and How Do They Perform Economically?" Jour. of International Migration and Integration. 2015, pp. 1–18.
Bhachu, Parminder. East African Sikh Settlers in Britain. Tavistock, 1985.
Das Gupta, Tania. Twice Migrated, Twice Displaced: Indian and Pakistani Transnational Households in Canada. UBC Press, 2021.
Kim, Kyung-hak. "Twice Migrant Indo-Fijian Community in Sydney with Particular Reference to Socio-Religious Organizations." Indian Anthropologist, vol. 34, no. 2, 2004, pp. 1–27.
Rathore, Claudia. "East African Indian Twice Migrants in Britain." English in the Indian Diaspora. Edited by Marianne Hundt and Devyani Sharma. Benjamins, 2014.
Takenaka, Ayumi. "Secondary Migration: Who Re-Migrates and Why These Migrants Matter." Migration Policy Institute, 26 April 2007, www.migrationpolicy.org/article/secondary-migration-who-re-migrates-and-why-these-migrants-matter. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
"Twice Migrants: African Asian Migration to the UK." Striking Women, www.striking-women.org/module/map-major-south-asian-migration-flows/twice-migrants-african-asian-migration-uk. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.