CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Strowel, Ellinor |
|---|---|
| Title | What explains the Increase of Nepalese Migration into Portugal from 2007 till 2024 ? |
| Summary | This research explores the reasons for the growing migration of Nepalese people to Portugal. To understand this specific migration increase of Nepalese to Portugal qualitative data was collected. This research is a qualitative case study that uses four experts semi-structured interviews and a policy analysis of two national immigration policies, using inductive thematic coding to assess the interaction of social networks and immigration policies in driving Nepalese migration to Portugal. In order to understand the rise in Nepalese migration to Portugal, this research applies and uses primarily the ‘pull’ factor of Everett S. Lee’s (1966) ‘push-pull’ migration theory. First, the research conceptualises social networks as a central mechanism in establishing the transnational Nepalese-Portuguese migration link. From this perspective, migration is viewed as an act of individual agency related to personal decision-making processes that shape the migration tie. Second, the research analyses Portugal’s national immigration policies as permissive, reflecting an open migration approach. By integrating these two dimensions -social networks and national immigration policy - the research explains how Nepalese migration to Portugal has increased in recent years. This research finds that social networks serve as a vehicle contributing to the increase in migration, operating through various channels such as associations, businesses and often reflecting a temporary character. Simultaneously, while focusing on two contested national immigration policies, the research observes that Portugal continues to adopt a ‘permissive’ and open approach to migration. Ultimately, the study concludes that the combination of active social networks and favorable, permissive immigration policies enables and facilitates the increase in Nepalese migration to Portugal. |
| Supervisor | Zentai, Violetta (CEU); Grugel, Jean (IBEI) |
| Department | Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/strowel_ellinor.pdf |
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