Maximising the Benefits of Migration in a Small-Island Economy
The case of the island of Rhodes
In 2007 the John S. Latsis Foundation announced its call for projects for research on Greece. The Hellenic Observatory's application, led by Dr Vassilis Monastiriotis, was one of ten successful bids and the only from a non-Greek institution. This project will be conducted in collaboration with Dr Eugenia Markova, former Senior Research Fellow at the Hellenic Observatory.
The project focuses on migrants in the island of Rhodes and explores (a) their experiences and perceptions of life on the island (b) the extent of social interactions, use of local public services and cohesion with the local residents and (c) the impact of migrants on the provision of local public services and on the local economy.
The focus on Rhodes allows the examination of these issues within a self-contained economy, which constitutes a significant entry point for illegal migrants and has particular high incidence of irregular/informal employment and a diverse international community.
The study is set in a comparative context, mirroring in parts a study conducted in 2004 by the Institute for Employment of the Greek General Confederation of Workers (INE-GSEE) on the migrants of the Athens region.
Project description
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Background
Islands in Greece, particularly Crete, Rhodes, Kerkyra and Zakinthos, have been accepting an increasing number of immigrants in the last fifteen years.
Yet, information remains relatively sparse as to the extent and nature or the size and composition of these new immigrant communities and the challenges they pose on local services provision and community cohesion. Islands in Greece are a very challenging 'laboratory' to study migration as they usually experience large numbers of undocumented migrants, many of them smuggled directly from Africa and Asia.
This study will focus on the island of Rhodes, which is a particularly interesting case as it is: (i) sufficiently large to be a vital, self-contained economy; (ii) situated away from the capital and the mainland; (iii) close to Turkey, which is a significant persons' smuggling point.
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Key Objectives
The aim of this study is to collect new empirical data and profile the migrant population living and working on the island of Rhodes and to explore (a) their experiences and perceptions of life on the island (b) the extent of social interactions, use of local public services and cohesion with the local residents and (c) the impact of migrants on the provision of local public services and on the local economy. The study will address how migrants' legal status, background, age and gender, and local residents' attitudes towards migrants influence community cohesion outcomes, as well as the role played by institutions, agencies and key individuals.
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Policy and Practice Relevance
The study is directly relevant to the goal of promoting community cohesion in small / fragmented communities (e.g., island economies) and also has important policy implications in terms of the legal status of immigrants, their conditions in the workplace, substitution / complementarity with local workers, and the educational, social and housing needs of both migrant communities and local residents.
In effect, this research will provide evidence on what is actually working for a Greek island community, still fragmented with an increased presence of both economic migrants and 'relatively wealthy retirees', to be transformed into a cohesive society and a sustainable economy, thus hastening integration so as to enhance the benefits of migration for the local economy and society.
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Methods
A two-stage methodology will be applied, divided into two phases. Both stages will be of six month duration: Phase 1 will provide an initial response to all of the key questions related to: the characteristics and extent of the migrant population on the island of Rhodes; sectors of migrant employment; accommodation and work conditions for migrants; demand for local public services by migrants and local residents and institutional responses; experiences and attitudes of local residents towards immigrants on the island. Phase 2 will include a series of qualitative in-depth interviews and focus groups with migrant workers and local residents as well as discussions with main stakeholders on the island.
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Expected Output
Two dissemination workshops; An interim report with preliminary findings; A final report aimed at policy-makers, together with one or more Policy Briefings; At least one article to be published in a specialist international academic journal; Articles in the Greek press as well as in migrant language newspapers in Greece.
Outputs
Press coverage
The project gathered extensive press coverage in the Greek press. Please click here and here for a collection of the articles presenting the projects funded by the John S. Latsis Foundation.