Existential migration
Encyclopedia
Existential migration is a concept derived from phenomenological research (Madison, 2006) into the lives of voluntary migrants who have chosen to leave their country of origin
in order to live as foreigners
in a new land. This research was originally published in a peer review
ed journal and has over the past three years generated interest amongst existential practitioners, migration scholars, and psychologists interested in migration. According to Madison this process of migration is unlike economic migration, simple wanderlust
, exile
, or variations of forced migration
. ‘Existential migration’ is conceived as a chosen attempt to express something fundamental about existence by leaving one’s homeland
and becoming a foreigner. The research study generated impressively consistent themes based upon in-depth interviews with twenty co-researchers. These themes are largely corroborated by more conventional studies on 'culture shock
' and W-curve hypothesis of cross-cultural
adaptation. Madison's study generated themes that included sensitivities such as the importance of trying to fulfill individual potentials, the importance of freedom
and independence
, openness to experiences of the mystery of life, and the valuing of difference
and foreignness as a stimulus to personal awareness
and broadening perspectives. Among this population there is a marked preference for the strange and foreign over the familiar or conventional.
As well as the new concept of existential migration, the research proposed a novel definition of home as interaction; that the ‘feeling of home’ arises from specific interactions with our surroundings that could potentially occur anywhere, at any time. This is in contrast to the usual definition of home as a fixed geographical place. The new concept also challenges our usual definitions of being at home, the experience of foreignness, what constitutes belonging
, and the nature of homelessness. The insights gained from this new concept elaborate our existing understanding of migration in exciting ways. Existential migration suggests reformulations of the psychological underpinnings of migration studies, cultural anthropology
, tourism
studies, cross-cultural training, refugee
studies, and psychotherapy
. Madison's research presents its subject matter in a clear and evocative way, emphasising the actual stories of voluntary migrants in order to convey the poignancy of the topic.
The phenomenological research that gave rise to the concept of existential migration (Madison, 2006) also suggests a cautionary note regarding the psychological impact of increasing globalisation. While globalisation is frequently presented as an economic evolution of capitalism
and as a market necessity, there is scant discourse about the impact that these profound changes in world structure may have upon the experience of people in their daily lives. Although the phenomenological research on voluntary migration needs further critique, the first research does suggest that the world community
may in fact be entering an age of global homelessness
. Of course recent economic turbulence has curtailed the increasing expectation that young professionals should be prepared to live abroad in order to enhance their career
prospects and indeed many, especially in the financial sector, are unexpectedly returning home after foreign assignments. However, even these returns home are often more problematic than expected and rather than return, they seem to resemble yet another migration due to the subsequent changes in person and home environment since the original leaving.
The concept of existential migration has generated considerable comment from voluntary migrants around the world as well as psychological and social science researchers, though there remains precious little in print about these fundamental existential motivations for migration. The concept has commonalities with some of the work on cosmopolitanism
by the anthropologist Nigel Rapport. A book on the subject, entitled The End of Belonging, is available publicly. The research is increasingly cited by new international researchers exploring the experience of voluntary migration.
Country of origin
Country of origin , is the country of manufacture, production, or growth where an article or product comes from...
in order to live as foreigners
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
in a new land. This research was originally published in a peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
ed journal and has over the past three years generated interest amongst existential practitioners, migration scholars, and psychologists interested in migration. According to Madison this process of migration is unlike economic migration, simple wanderlust
Wanderlust
Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world.-Etymology:The loanword from German language became an English term in 1902 as a reflection of what was then seen as a characteristically German predilection for wandering that may be traced back to German...
, exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
, or variations of forced migration
Forced migration
Forced migration refers to the coerced movement of a person or persons away from their home or home region...
. ‘Existential migration’ is conceived as a chosen attempt to express something fundamental about existence by leaving one’s homeland
Homeland
A homeland is the concept of the place to which an ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association with —the country in which a particular national identity began. As a common noun, it simply connotes the country of one's origin...
and becoming a foreigner. The research study generated impressively consistent themes based upon in-depth interviews with twenty co-researchers. These themes are largely corroborated by more conventional studies on 'culture shock
Culture shock
Culture shock is the anxiety, feelings of frustration, alienation and anger that may occur when a person is emplaced in a new culture.One of the most common causes of culture shock involves individuals in a foreign country. Culture shock can be described as consisting of one or more distinct phases...
' and W-curve hypothesis of cross-cultural
Cross-cultural
cross-cultural may refer to*cross-cultural studies, a comparative tendency in various fields of cultural analysis*cross-cultural communication, a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate...
adaptation. Madison's study generated themes that included sensitivities such as the importance of trying to fulfill individual potentials, the importance of freedom
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
and independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, openness to experiences of the mystery of life, and the valuing of difference
Difference
Difference may refer to:* Difference , a 2005 power metal album* Difference , a concept in computer science* Difference , any systematic way of distinguishing similar coats of arms belonging to members of the same family* Difference , a statement about the relative size or order of two objects**...
and foreignness as a stimulus to personal awareness
Awareness
Awareness is the state or ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or sensory patterns. In this level of consciousness, sense data can be confirmed by an observer without necessarily implying understanding. More broadly, it is the state or quality of being aware of...
and broadening perspectives. Among this population there is a marked preference for the strange and foreign over the familiar or conventional.
As well as the new concept of existential migration, the research proposed a novel definition of home as interaction; that the ‘feeling of home’ arises from specific interactions with our surroundings that could potentially occur anywhere, at any time. This is in contrast to the usual definition of home as a fixed geographical place. The new concept also challenges our usual definitions of being at home, the experience of foreignness, what constitutes belonging
Belonging
Belonging is an English-language Welsh television drama series, produced by BBC Wales and broadcast on BBC One Wales.The programme revolved around the lives of the Lewis family, and their various trials and tribulations in the changing environment of their South Wales town Bryncoed and modern Wales...
, and the nature of homelessness. The insights gained from this new concept elaborate our existing understanding of migration in exciting ways. Existential migration suggests reformulations of the psychological underpinnings of migration studies, cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
studies, cross-cultural training, refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
studies, and psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
. Madison's research presents its subject matter in a clear and evocative way, emphasising the actual stories of voluntary migrants in order to convey the poignancy of the topic.
The phenomenological research that gave rise to the concept of existential migration (Madison, 2006) also suggests a cautionary note regarding the psychological impact of increasing globalisation. While globalisation is frequently presented as an economic evolution of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and as a market necessity, there is scant discourse about the impact that these profound changes in world structure may have upon the experience of people in their daily lives. Although the phenomenological research on voluntary migration needs further critique, the first research does suggest that the world community
World community
The term is used primarily in political and humanitarian contexts to describe an international aggregate of nation states of widely varying types. In most connotations, the term is used to convey meanings attached to consensus or inclusion of all people in all lands and their...
may in fact be entering an age of global homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
. Of course recent economic turbulence has curtailed the increasing expectation that young professionals should be prepared to live abroad in order to enhance their career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
prospects and indeed many, especially in the financial sector, are unexpectedly returning home after foreign assignments. However, even these returns home are often more problematic than expected and rather than return, they seem to resemble yet another migration due to the subsequent changes in person and home environment since the original leaving.
The concept of existential migration has generated considerable comment from voluntary migrants around the world as well as psychological and social science researchers, though there remains precious little in print about these fundamental existential motivations for migration. The concept has commonalities with some of the work on cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
by the anthropologist Nigel Rapport. A book on the subject, entitled The End of Belonging, is available publicly. The research is increasingly cited by new international researchers exploring the experience of voluntary migration.
Sources
- Hayes, Helen (2008) (Be)coming Home:An Existential Perspective on Migration, Settlement and the Meanings of Home. Existential Analysis, 18.1: 2-16 This article offers different original research which references the concept of Existential Migration while offering a different point of view on some similar phenomena.
- Madison, Greg (2006) Existential Migration. Existential Analysis, 17.2: 238-60 This article offers an outline of the original research.
- Madison, Greg (2007) Unsettling Thought. Existential Analysis, 18.2: 220-29 This article is a reply to Hayes' article above - a dialogue that seeks to clarify some of the differences in perspective, thus clarifying some of the intentions of the original research by Madison.
- Expat Identity (January 25, 2010) "The South African" http://london.thesouthafrican.com/living-in-london/Expat-identity--Are-you-an-“existential-migrant”
- Is Travel an Existential Need? (July 7, 2009) "Matador Network" http://matadorabroad.com/existential-migration-is-travel-an-existential-need/
- Existential Migration (March, 2008) Coaching Matters, Issue 6, page 5
- Existential Migration. Voluntary Migrants' Experiences of Not Being-at-home in the World Madison, Greg (2010) Lambert Academic Press. This book presents the original research leading to this new concept in human migration in a more academic form.
- End of Belonging. Untold Stories of Leaving Home and the psychology of Globalization. Madison, Greg (2009).