New Migration Dynamics on the South-Western Periphery of Europe: Theoretical Reflections on the Portuguese Case

Abstract

I reflect on the overall contents of the book and highlight the key theoretical insights contributed therein. I draw on my own theoretical writings on the nature of migration trends in Southern Europe – the so-called ‘Southern European model’ of migration, with its various historical and geographical phases – and enrich this analysis through specific reference to the Portuguese case. Notions of cores and (semi-)peripheries are crucial to understanding both the political economy and evolving typologies of Portuguese migration trends over the long term and in recent years. Key here is the coexistence of Portugal’s status as the metropolitan core of a (post)colonial periphery and its (semi-)peripheral situation within Europe. This dual perspective helps to explain the complex geography and history of Portugal’s migration flows. Finally, I point to four areas which could have been given more emphasis: the within-Portugal regional patterning of emigration trends, the relative lack of attention given to return migration, the question of gender in ongoing Portuguese migration patterns and the overall impact of migration on Portuguese economic and social development.