Responses to migration crises by local third sector organizations: examples from three continents

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

As Garkisch et al. (2017) note in their review of third sector organizations and migration, there is still much to learn about the systematic relationship between the diverse types of third sector organizations and the myriad challenges of migration. This panel convenes scholars examining a specific category of third sector actors- local third sector organizations- and their efforts to address migration crises, and/or migrants in crisis. We examine several distinct geopolitical contexts: Venezuelan migrants traveling to and through Colombia, migrants from Ukraine traveling to and through Romania, and North Korean refugees settling in South Korea. We attempt to address questions around the strategies, advantages, and challenges of local nonprofit organizations and other local third sector actors when responding to migration crises and migrants in crisis.

Our panel contributes to the research on third sector actors and migration crises in several important ways. Garkisch et al. (2017) observe that by far most research on third sector organizations and migration is on organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. We contribute by bringing perspectives from outside those regions, specifically from East Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Garkisch and colleagues also state that little research addresses migrant sending countries or migration as a transboundary issue, and our panel speaks to these topics. A challenge of migration research is also the time discrepancy between contemporary events and published research findings (Garkisch et al 2023). On this panel, we present timely results on migration crises frequently discussed in the 2023 headlines such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Guardian 2023), and Venezuelan migration throughout the Americas (Turkewitz & Herrera 2023).

References

Falconer, Rebecca (2023). U.S. Southern border crossings hit new highs amid humanitarian crisis. https://www.axios.com/2023/10/24/border-crossings-cbp-record

Garkisch, M., Heidingsfelder, J. and Beckmann, M. (2017). Third Sector Organizations and Migration: A Systematic Literature Review on the Contribution of Third Sector Organizations in View of Flight, Migration and Refugee Crises, Voluntas, 28, 1839–1880.

The Guardian, (2023). Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 600 of the invasion. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/16/russia-ukraine-war-at-a-glance-what-we-know-on-day-600-of-the-invasion

Turkewitz, J. and Herrera, I (2023). Venezuelan Migration Explained. New York Times, September 24, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/24/world/americas/why-are-so-many-venezuelans-going-to-the-united-states.html.

Sub Unit

• The role and position of the Third Sector during crises and conflicts

Individual Presentations

• Migration Crisis in the Andes: A Case Study of Localization through Acompañamiento from Medellin, Colombia - Susan Appe, University at Albany, SUNY; Fabian Telch, Binghamton University; Lenis Yelin Araque, Fundación Huellas

• Formalization and evolution of Romanian third sector emergency networks in the Ukraine migration crisis - Shawn Teresa Flanigan, San Diego State University; Alexa Bejinariu, University of Nevada Las Vegas; Tobias Burack, San Diego State University

• Social enterprises in evolution of South Korean public policies targeting North Korean migrants - Bok Jeong, Kean University; Eric Bidet, Le Mans University/ADDES