Papers by Annelies Zoomers
This project focuses on a significant theme within current public and academic debates, namely th... more This project focuses on a significant theme within current public and academic debates, namely the balance between international migration and national development. This topic will be analysed from the perspective of the countries of origin, with an emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa and includes South-North and South-South migration as well. During the last decades, one outcome of ever-increasing global time-space convergence, has been a considerable increase in the rate of growth of the world's migrant population. There is every indication that this is just the beginning of a trend that will most likely accelerate in the 21st century, driven by rapid declines in fertility in the more economically advanced regions, higher rates of urbanisation, technological change, and the forces of economic integration and globalisation, as well as chronic poverty in the more marginal regions. According to the ILO, there are roughly 20 million migrant workers, immigrants and members of their families across Africa, 18 million in North America, 12 million in Central and South America, 7 million in South and East Asia, 9 million in the Middle East and 30 million throughout Europe. Western Europe alone is home to approximately 9 million economically active foreigners. This project-which to a certain extent is a follow up of a book project on international migration and development to be published in 2007-focuses on achieving a better understanding of the implications of international migration from the perspective of the sending countries (with an emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa). Nowadays national governments of numerous countries of origin are actively involved in optimizing the link between international migration and (national) development. In addition to having to deal with (new types of) migration flows, national governments as well as also sections of civil society are increasingly involved in 'engaging diasporas as agents for development' (IOM 2005). Nationals living abroad are increasingly encouraged to support development or post-conflict reconstruction in their countries of origin. The aims of this project are to explore (1) current perceptions-as seen from the perspective of the countries of origin-of the links between international migration and national development, and (2) current trends in policy making aimed at minimizing the negative effects, while optimizing the development impact. Various multi-faced angles and perspectives are explored with the help of the following questions: What is the view of sending countries with respect to the rapid outmigration of skilled and unskilled labor? What is the perception of sending countries about the advantages and disadvantages of temporary and/or circular migration in comparison to 'permanent' migration? What is their perception about return migration and how is this linked to national development? What are the implications of international migration for national development and poverty reduction strategies (as reflected in PRSPs)? How is migration perceived from the regional perspective (ECOWAS, etc.) and what kind of initiatives are currently underway to optimise the
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In the 1960s and early 1970s, many countries in South and Southeast Asia were the focus of world ... more In the 1960s and early 1970s, many countries in South and Southeast Asia were the focus of world attention due to their frequent occurrence of food shortages. These shortages were met by large amounts of food imported through food aid or similar programmes. Several pessimistic predictions were made about the future of food security in Asia on the basis of the severity of these shortages. For example, the Asian Development Bank’s 1977 survey predicted increasing food grains defi cits unless remedial measures were undertaken in most of these countries, and by the late 1970s, India was categorized as a lost cause, since there was no hope for it to increase its food supplies.
Se estudian los problemas crecientes de la degradacion ecologica en el conjunto del tercer mundo ... more Se estudian los problemas crecientes de la degradacion ecologica en el conjunto del tercer mundo y, en especial, de America latina. El caso de Paraguay es significativo, a pesar de tratarse de un pais de campesinos y de ser minima la actividad industrial.
The Netherlands is an important actor in the floriculture sector worldwide. Many Dutch flower com... more The Netherlands is an important actor in the floriculture sector worldwide. Many Dutch flower companies have in recent years established businesses in the Global South as a result of favourable climatic conditions, available land and water resources, and the presence of cheap labour. With the aim to stimulate investments in developing countries (e.g., in the context of the Private Sector Investment programme) some companies were further incentivized by the Dutch government to start up their business through development-related subsidies or favourable loans. Justified by the perceived availability of underused tracts of arable land and the need to bolster global food security, the government views private sector investments as levers for poverty alleviation and inclusive growth. In the policy note on the ‘new direction’ for Dutch development cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, ‘It is our task to encourage investment and trade that benefit people and planet, create jo...
In the 1960s and early 1970s, many countries in South and Southeast Asia were the focus of world ... more In the 1960s and early 1970s, many countries in South and Southeast Asia were the focus of world attention due to their frequent occurrence of food shortages. These shortages were met by large amounts of food imported through food aid or similar programmes. Several pessimistic predictions were made about the future of food security in Asia on the basis of the severity of these shortages. For example, the Asian Development Bank’s 1977 survey predicted increasing food grains defi cits unless remedial measures were undertaken in most of these countries, and by the late 1970s, India was categorized as a lost cause, since there was no hope for it to increase its food supplies
The EU aims to establish ‘deals’ with third countries: political packages which encompass clear t... more The EU aims to establish ‘deals’ with third countries: political packages which encompass clear targets and joint commitments. A ‘win-win-win’ situation is envisaged by combining different policy elements beyond migration, such as trade and development. This article aims to contribute to the debate about ‘new’ migration partnerships by looking back – what can we learn from EU-migration agreements since the 1990s – and forward – what are the challenges?
In recent years, development cooperation has moved from traditional development assistance toward... more In recent years, development cooperation has moved from traditional development assistance towards an ‘aid and trade’ agenda with businesses becoming important agents of change within development. Despite the widespread adoption of these new policies, there is little empirical evidence about the developmental impact of private sector activities in developing country contexts, including unintended effects of the interventions at the local level. To the extent that attention is given to the developmental impacts, reference is usually made of the employment and/or income impacts for directly affected communities which are often presented as closed containers (Zoomers and Otsuki 2017), without taking into account the impacts for bypassed groups or the extra-local effects. Outcomes, intended and unintended effects whether positive or negative, are not limited to local groups - but are renegotiated through social interactions between all those involved. In this paper, based on field resea...
Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 1996
This article illustrates the impact of rural‐urban relations on the livelihood strategy and incom... more This article illustrates the impact of rural‐urban relations on the livelihood strategy and income level of peasants by focusing on the question of whether small farmers within easy reach of a city are better off and/or have better prospects for improving their situation, than those living outside the urban sphere of influence. In order to answer this question, the Central Region of Paraguay has been chosen as a case study. The authors show that Asuncion plays a crucial role in the livelihood strategy and income level of small farmers in the Central Region, not as the catalyst for agricultural intensification and the spread of innovations, but as the ‘safety valve’ for the rural poor, providing them with opportunities for finding additional income sources outside the farming sector.
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The Geographical Journal, 1989
Molenaar, H.; Box, L.; Engelhard, R.[et al.](ed.), Knowledge on the Move. Emerging Agendas for Development-oriented Research, 2009
Zoomers, A.; Rivera-Salgado, G.; Asis, M.; Piper, N.; Raghuram, P.; Awumbila, M.; Manuh, T. and S... more Zoomers, A.; Rivera-Salgado, G.; Asis, M.; Piper, N.; Raghuram, P.; Awumbila, M.; Manuh, T. and Schapendonk, J. (2009). Migration in a globalizing world: Knowledge, migration and development. In: Molenaar, Henk; Box, Louk and Engelhard, Rutger eds. Knowledge on the Move: Emerging Agendas for Development-Oriented Research. Leiden: International Development Publications, pp. 89–121.
Routledge eBooks, Jun 6, 2022
Background After many decades in which attention has been one-sidedly concentrated on the "urban ... more Background After many decades in which attention has been one-sidedly concentrated on the "urban future," since 2021 closer attention is being paid to the "left-behind areas," where the remaining populations have increasingly been left to look after themselves. According to the EC's rural vision document (and based on public consultation in rural areas), a large proportion of "local people" are discontented: almost 40% of respondents said that they felt left behind by society and policymakers (in spite of having advantages linked to farming and agritourism). About 50% of respondents stated that infrastructure was the most pressing issue for rural areas, and 43% said that access to basic services and amenities, such as water and electricity, as well as banks and post offices, was an urgent requirement. Around 93% believed that the attractiveness of rural areas depends on the availability of digital connectivity, 94% said that it depends on basic services and e-services and 92% stated that it rests on improving the climate and the environmental performance of farming. Due to limited connectivity, underdeveloped infrastructure and a lack of diverse employment, rural areas are less desirable for younger people to live in (EU, 2021). The MATILDE Manifesto and the EU's long-term vision coincide in their plea for closer attention to reinvestment in rural "left behind" areas, which are home to 137 million people (almost 30% of the EU's population). In calling for the "renaissance of remote places," MATILDE highlights the need for local autonomy-and also the need to move away from neoliberal development in the direction of alternative development while being explicit about the positive role of immigration and newcomers. Remoteness is presented as a "strength" because it makes it possible to rethink "business as usual" and take the "local" as the new point of departure for rebuilding society. This is different from the EU's long-term approach, where much emphasis is given to "improving connectivity both in terms of transport and digital access" and making these areas contribute to "green growth." The top priorities are
Tourism Geographies
Residents of Kampung Prawirotaman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia respond differently to night-time touris... more Residents of Kampung Prawirotaman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia respond differently to night-time tourist activity. This historic batik kampung was transformed into an international tourist destination, s...
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Papers by Annelies Zoomers