They go to the city, and sometimes they come back: Conceptualising rural and urban spaces through experiences of circular migration in Paraguay

Abstract

In this paper, I examine what people’s reasons for migrating from, and subsequently returning to, a rural community can tell us about the inter-related ways that rural and urban spaces are conceptualised. Drawing on research in a small, agricultural community in Paraguay, I explore two illustrations of women who are circular migrants, in order to demonstrate some of the potential circumstances, aspirations, and experiences that can shape decisions to migrate for work and then eventually return to rural spaces. My discussion demonstrates the importance of migration in the construction of a rural present and future, in which movements between rural and urban spaces help to support rural life and aspirations.

Agrarian crossroads: rural aspirations and capitalist transformation

“…In the domain of rural transformation, however, studies that explicitly engage questions of agrarian/rural aspiration are few in number. Within the "aspirations literature" we find instead a clear and visible dominance of educational and migration studies (for example , Finnis 2017;Lim 2018;Meyer 2018), and of studies that integrate these two fields (Corbett and Forsey 2017). While arguments that aspirations are important but understudied (Giuliani et al 2017;Sentíes Portilla 2017) are being made, a dominant strand of analysis establishes an explicit and "increasingly recognized" (Kosec and Mo 2017) connection between aspirations and well-being, or mobilises ideas of "aspiration failure" (Janzen et al 2017;Mekonnen and Gerber 2017) to argue for particular kinds of development or state interventions.…”

Reconsidering migration dynamics within diverse rural spaces

“…However, as global migration literature demonstrates, many people also live in split households in which migration is an ongoing feature of life. This is seen for example in the case studies of Chinese and Paraguayan rural -urban migration (Chuang, 2016;Finnis, 2017). Furthermore, macro-trends can overlook the levels of rural-rural migration occurring both within countries, and to a lesser extent, between countries.…”

“…Rural spaces change in relation to migration and mobility for many reasons: demographic changes and increased urban space; land use change; and climate change to name a few factors. Furthermore, increased mobility may affect the way that spaces are understood in relation to one another due to increased connections between spaces and social groups (Finnis, 2017). The notion of rural spaces must therefore be understood beyond a simple contrast with 'urban'.…”

“…This can be seen in particular in labour migration towards particular production networks such as for the production of ready-made garments in Bangladesh (Anwary, 2017;Elson and Pearson, 1981). In relation to this trend, a debate has emerged regarding whether migration is an empowering process for women, individually and in relation to their communities of origin in rural areas (Finnis, 2017;Torres and Carte, 2016;Lenoël, 2015;de Haas and van Rooij, 2010). This research suggests that while women from all backgrounds are playing an increasing role in global mobility, it should not be assumed that gender inequalities are decreasing.…”

“…In fact, for some migrant workers, particularly where family, state or other factors incentivise their return, urban migration can result in funds for a re-investment in rural spaces. Finnis (2017) provides an informative case of women who are migrant workers in Paraguay. This illustrates how rural-urban mobility is not only characterised by strategies that span space, but also time.…”