From “migration crisis” to “crisis migration”: A conceptual review within the migration studies field

Abstract

This article aims to debate a new concept within the migration studies field which is named “crisis migration”, shedding light on the processes, motives and factors that influence the movement of populations affected by crisis. Introducing other interrelated categories – such as eventuality, immobility and non-choice –, the article is guided by a methodological and conceptual perspective that understands crisis as a driver to migration. Therefore it seeks to defy the idea that migrations generate crisis to nation-states receiving large contingents of people. This idea has been consolidated by the term “migration crisis” especially disseminated in the midia and political discourses. Our discussion of the new concept was based on bibliographic review, focusing on recent researchs in respect to crisis migration and its unfoldings not only in the local but also in the international scenario. Finally, we bring about the challenges as well as the contributions of this concept, which involve unsolved central debates within the migration field.