Lelio Mármora: Governability crisis and new migration policies in Latin America

The Author argues that Latin America, along with other continental areas, is subjected to a "crisis in governing migration", due to effects that globalisation has on human mobility. The article begins by examining the characteristics of this crisis – the increase of undocumented migrants, the surge of social conflicts, the rise in human trafficking – and its close connection with changes that affect the normal authority, which, in the era of globalisation, the States have over the movement of people crossing their borders. Changes in migration patterns in Latin America are examined. A significant flow is still registered from Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America to the United States, showing a substantial continuity with the past. However, new migration flows begin to appear (e.g., Brazil to Japan) or to increase (e.g., migration towards Italy and Spain). Change in migration policies also reflects this ever-changing picture, one of the most important being the regional consultative process taking place in recent decades, particularly the "Puebla Process" and the "Southamerican Forum on Migration". As a matter of conclusion, a window is opened on possible developments and policy change after 11 September.

Jorge Gurrieri: Bilateral Agreements on Labour Migration in South America. Tools for Migration Governability?

The article gives an overview of bilateral labour migration agreements in South America. It starts from an overview of migration flows in the region, giving some background information and setting the framework for a more in-depth analysis of two samples: the Migration Agreement between Argentina and Peru, and that between the Republic of Ecuador and the Kingdom of Spain. The Author highlights the limitations attached to the implementation of these Agreements (failure in counterbalancing the new generation of migrants in an irregular situation; ineffective responses to migrants’ illegal residence), but in the end he still stresses the importance of putting more effort into the development of bilateral agreements as a means for a better control of migration.

Nora Pérez Vichich: La movilidad de trabajadores en la agenda del Mercosur

The "Mercado Común del Sur" (Mercosur) has been operational for more than decade. The article seeks to evaluate one of the most controversial aspects in the process of regional integration: migration and the free movement of workers. A historical overview highlights the evolution from the first stage (Subgrupo de Trabajo, SGT11) to the present (SGT10, following the "Protocolo de Ouro Preto, 1994). The latter redefines the nature of the process of regional integration, shifting the focus from a concept of free circulation of workers (belonging to the integration policies) to a more traditional concept of labour migration (as in the closed economies). While underlining the importance of initiatives taken by the Sub- Group on labour mobility concerning the border areas, the author considers that the matter should not be circumscribed and limited to such areas. Finally, the article examines the discussion over practical measures which facilitate human mobility within Mercosur, and calls the reader’s attention on the importance of redirecting the debate and the actions with regard to the SGT10.

Luis A. Bogado-Poisson: Movilidad de los trabajadores en los Países Andinos. Historia de un proceso

The link between labour mobility and sustainable development has been widely discussed among Andean countries’ governments. The "Instrumento Andino de Migración Laboral" was conceived as a tool for regional development. At the time when the process of integration was starting in the region ("Acuerdo de Cartagena", 1969), the States, in a system of planned economy, were the primary movers in stimulating production. But due to the Countries’ labour shortage, the mobility of workers in the region began increasing. In this context, guidelines regulating labour mobility flow within the region were introduced, which lead to the elaboration of the "Instrumento Andino de Migración Laboral". Both regional and global changes caused a number of revisions in this agreement with the introduction of new types of migrant workers, and the subsequent simplification of entry procedures to reduce undocumented migration.

Manuel Ángel Castillo: The Regional Conference on Migration. Its evolution and current security context: the war on terrorism and human rights

The present article describes and analyses the origin of the Regional Conference on Migration, its nature, evolution and consolidation as an ongoing six-year process. The author offers a critical examination of the possibilities of achieving the original objectives, aware of the approaches and limits the process leaders must confront. The article also deals with the principal obstacles encountered by governments throughout the various stages and levels involved. One of the sections deals with the relationship and the role played thus far by civil organizations involved in migration activities in the region: their involvement has been growing and they are now grouped in a Regional Civil Organizations for Migration Network. They are not just limited to setting guidelines and standards for the Conference Action Plan, but, from a critical perspective, they participate and actively contribute to the achievement of its objectives. Finally, the article reflects on the challenges and on the obstacles affecting the process in the current socio-political environment which gives priority to the demands of security and antiterrorism at the expenses of the relationship between migration, social development and the human rights of migrants, which are the turning points of the Puebla Action Plan.

Antonio Izquierdo Escribano, Diego López de Lera, Raquel Martínez Buján: The favorites of the Twenty-First Century: Latin American Immigration in Spain

The purpose of this paper is to show the preference of the Spanish society, reflected in governmental decisions, for immigrants from Latin America. This preference will be ascertained through the analysis of quantitative research, public opinion surveys and legislation. Internal demand and politics are crucial elements to explain this Latin American presence in Spain, since the economy is shaped by governmental policies which lure migrants from some countries instead of others. The Authors analyze the changes experienced by Latin American immigration to Spain; that is, the alterations to its volume and social and demographic characteristics. The overall objective is to explain the timing and causes behind the "Latinamericanization" of immigration to Spain.

Luigi Gaffuri, Franco Pittau, Paul Scutti: Immigrazione e territorio in Abruzzo

After a brief introduction referring to foreign presence in Italy, this essay deals with the case of Abruzzo, which has recently moved from being a land of migration to a land of immigration. Placed in the central-eastern geographical context of the Italian peninsula, the migration phenomenon is here prevalently of Balkan character. The two prevalent ethnic groups, Albanians and Macedonians, concentrate mainly in the mountain area of the interior and their main activity is as shepherds. There is also a noticeable presence of Northern Africans and a numerous community of Senegalese, mainly engaged in itinerant trade and mainly settled along the Adriatic coast. The world of labour, their needs of habitation, their distribution over the territory, their position respect to illegality and integration, the role of civil society and institutions show the presence of transformation processes in a region in which immigration of a young population on average, still quantitatively moderate and of mainly family character, tends to become increasingly stable and numerous.