Bilgili, Leung og Malingen

Key themes in New perspectives on migrant transnationalism in the pandemic era by Bilgili, Leung & Malingen

1. The effects of COVID-19 on migrants and remittances

2. The challenges of transnational entrepeneurs

3. Social lives of migrants during the pandemic and social remittance

4. Increased racism during the pandemic

5. Restricted access of migrants to healthcare

Bilgili, Leung & Malingen:

The effects of COVID-19 on migrants and remittances

• Remittances did not decrease as much as expected due to government intervention (different actions taken in different countries) and the resiliance of migrants

• Those most financially affected during the pandemic were families in lower income countries relying on remittances from family members in other countries.

• Understanding from which areas in the country immigrants are from, where they have migrated to and what types of employment they have can be an important indicator of how remittance flows might be impacted and who within the population may be affected the most

Bilgili, Leung & Malingen:

The challenges of transnational entrepreneurs

• Transnational entrepreneurs — immigrants who own their own businesses, which operate in transnational contexts and between different institutional settings

• Transnational entrepreneurs found various solutions to restricting work regulations, e.g., using more technology, moving the production of their products to their home countries, and adapting their business models to the new demands created by the pandemic

Bilgili, Leung & Malingen:

Social lives of migrants during the pandemic and social remittance

• Pandemic transnationalism — the circulation of ideas and practices in times of pandemic which encompasses an exchange of informal practices that affects not only the lives of migrants and their families in their home country, but their close circle of friends and neighbours as well

• In other words: There were different restrictions, information spread and actions taken in different countries which created tension for migrants when speaking to family members and friends in their home countries. In this way, migrants had to negotiate values and norms between their resident and home countries.

• Social remittances — In this way, migrants continued to play a crucial social and cultural role in their communities of origin by adapting the ways they share knowledge and support.

Bilgili, Leung & Malingen:

Increased racism during the pandemic

• Racism and violence increased especially towards Asian people.

• The pandemic both intensified and prevented connections between migrants. The shared experience of racism were intensifying, while lockdowns and social contacts prevented connection, especially for newcomeres who were consequencially prevented from embedding in their new environment. Facing isolation, many migrants turned to their local co-ethnic and transnational diaspora networks for support.

Bilgili, Leung & Malingen:

Restricted access of migrants to healthcare

• There was restricted access for migrants to vaccinations and new regulations, especially due to the language barrier and reluctance from the government to reach these groups to spread information

• Overall, it would not be wrong to say that the pandemic put migrants in more vulnerable situations compared to the rest of the population in various ways