"The thirsty man goes to the well" Aspired Migrants and Brokers: A Case of Pakistan

• In Event: 3251 - Section on International Migration Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 18. Sending Contexts

Abstract

Drawing on in-depth interviews with thirty respondents in district Gujrat – ten aspired migrants who once initiated their journey towards Greece but deported back to Pakistan, ten female family members and ten male family members of such migrants, I examine the role of brokers in organization and facilitation of irregular migration from Pakistan to Greece. Building on brokerage as useful lens, results show that in context of Gujrat, brokerage is not merely a mediation to facilitate mobility across borders but is inextricably entrenched in the social fabric of society by providing assistance in migration decision making. It shapes social interaction and provides basic information regarding processes of irregular migration while establishing a trustworthy network of migrants who had a similar mobility experience. Such social interaction is linked with the social profile of brokers, usually embedded in their position in social stratification, foster irregular migration instead following legal procedure through embassy.

Author

• Tauqeer Hussain Shah, University Bielefeld