Análisis De La Superdiversidad Migratoria en El Medio Rural: Un Estudio De Caso Del Alentejo

Abstract

RESUMEN-se presenta un estudio de caso representativo de superdiversidad migratoria en el medio rural: el municipio portugués de Odemira. se contextualiza el fenómeno dentro de las tendencias migratorias tras la crisis económica global y se identifican algunos de los principales temas que confluyen en su análisis: la llamada lifestyle migration, el turismo alternativo y de naturaleza, y los enclaves agrícolas globales. asimismo, se discute el potencial y la relevancia de estos rural melting pots para el análisis sociológico. Palabras clave: Migración internacional; turismo residencial; enclaves agrícolas globales; turismo de naturaleza; medio rural. ABSTRACT-rUraL sUPerDiVersitY: ODeMira, aLenteJO, a Case stUDY. This article is about a case study on migration superdiversity in a rural setting: the Portuguese municipality of Odemira. The phenomenon is contextualized within post-crisis global migration trends to identify some of the main converging topics: lifestyle migration, nature or alternative tourism, and global agricultural enclaves. We bring forward the sociological relevance and possibilities of these rural melting pots.

Migration and the reconfiguration of rural places: The accommodation of difference in Odemira, Portugal

“…This corporation holds several farming units in Odemira, 5 being also a shareholder of Lusomorango, an organisation of berries producers established in 2005 and presently encompassing 40 local producers ( Agricultura e Mar Actual , 26 March 2018). The presence of farming corporations directly involved with large commercial distribution chains brought Odemira, a “global agricultural enclave” (Taboadela et al, 2018), in full force into the global agri‐food supply chains (Gadea et al, 2017).…”

“…All in all, presently, one may find two major strands of migrants in Odemira (Esteves et al, 2017; Moreno et al, 2016): a larger group composed by labourers who find jobs in national and international enterprises producing small berries, vegetables and cut flowers, mostly coming from SE Asia (Thais), the Hindustani Peninsula (Indians and Nepalese) and Eastern EU member states (Romania and Bulgaria)—Figure 2; and a less diversified strand, from Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom, made up of the CEOs of international corporate farming and those looking for the “good life” through the search of a quiet coastal retreat or even spiritual fulfilment. The Tamera eco‐village, the Community 108 and the Mooji retreat estate are examples of eco and healing communities whose members come from a variety of geographical origins for alternative lifestyles in Odemira (Taboadela et al, 2018). These representations of the destination (Benson & O'Reilly, 2009) may sometimes intersect with economic activities like eco‐farming, arts and crafts, gourmet food, and local development initiatives 6 as a way of self‐realisation and/or as an economic complement to modest incomes from the origin country.…”

“…Moreover, the local economic and social diversification has brought to the fore a set of conflicts of interest resulting from the growing complexity of trying to reach compatibility between public agencies and private enterprises. The public interest is represented by the government sphere and the territorial planning and management instruments (the Municipal/Local Authorities, the Alentejo Coordination Commission, 11 the Natural Park, the Agriculture and Ecologic Reserves, the Management Plan of the Coastal Fringe and Odemira's Local Territorial Plan) that endeavour to impose limits, for environmental and social reasons, to the “new intensive farming” businesses sponsored by national and transnational investments (Morén‐Alegret et al, 2018; Taboadela et al, 2018).…”

A “Young Farmer Problem”? Opportunities and Constraints for Generational Renewal in Farm Management: An Example from Southern Europe

“…Furthermore, as a result of the recent economic crisis, urban dwellers have been engaging once again in the management of farmland which had previously been abandoned [34]. In Alentejo this has been linked to the arrival of young autonomous farmers who, in the absence of other professional opportunities, are focusing on the use of the land and taking up agriculture [35].…”

‘If you don't migrate, you're a nobody’: Migration recruitment networks and experiences of Nepalese farm workers in Portugal

“…This trend fits the Southern European 'model of immigration' where the existence of a large informal labour market facilitates the hiring of irregular migrants (King and DeBono 2013). As the relationship between international migration and industrial agriculture is relatively recent in Portugal, its dynamics remain understudied (however, see Morén-Alegret et al, 2018;Moreno et al, 2016;Pereira et al, 2016;Taboadela et al, 2018;).…”