Complex human security in North Korean irregular migration

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

8-2014

Abstract

Across East Asia, intra-regional migration is more prevalent than inter-regional movements, and the region's diverse histories, geopolitics, economic development, ethnic communities, and natural environments make it an excellent case study for examining the relationship between irregular migration and human security. Irregular migration can be broadly defined as people's mobility that is unauthorised orforced, and this book expands on the existing migration-security nexus by moving away from the traditional state security lens, and instead, shifting the focus to human security. With in-depth empirical country case studies from the region, including China, Japan, North Korea, the Philippines, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore, the contributors to this book develop a human security approach to the study of irregular migration. In cases of irregular migration, such as undocumented labour migrants, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, trafficked persons, and smuggled people, human security is the cause and/or effect of migration in both sending and receiving countries. By adopting a human security lens, the chapters provide striking insights into the motivations, vulnerabilities and insecurities of migrants; the risks, dangers and illegality they are exposed to during their journeys; as well as the potential or imagined threats they pose to the new host countries. This multidisciplinary book is based on extensive fieldwork and interviews with migrants, aid workers, NGO activists and immigration officers. As such, it will appeal to students and scholars of Asian politics and security, as well as those with interests in international relations, social policy, law, geography and migration.

Keywords

migration, emigration and immigration, human security, North Korea

Discipline

Asian Studies | Political Science

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Irregular migration and human security in East Asia

Editor

Song Jiyoung and Alistair D. B. Cook

First Page

137

Last Page

154

ISBN

9780415732994

Publisher

Routledge

City or Country

London

Comments

Edited by Jiyoung Song and Alistair D.B. Cook

Additional URL

https://worldcat.org/isbn/9780415732994

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