Leiden University Student Repository

Mendes de León, Valérie (2020)

Pacific perceptions on distance in climate migration: A case study of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Kiribati

Master thesis | Political Science (MSc)

The effects of global climate change are causing new patterns of human migration, which arises questions about decision-making in climate migration. This thesis analyses the influence of distance to the host country in migration decision-making through the perceptions of Marshallese and I-Kiribati. In 32 surveys and 12 in-depth interviews among these Pacific islanders, this study finds that the reason for migration – more climate security – shapes migration motivations significantly. It therefore argues that climate change should be included as a factor in research on migration distances. In addition, it uncovers that that distance is not perceived solely geographical, but that the islanders also discern sociocultural, economic, climatic and political distance. This research therefore suggests that the definition of distance will be expanded to fit it into this multi-dimensional character.

Migration

distance

climate change

Kiribati

The Marshall Islands

Author

Mendes de León, Valérie

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

International Politics

Supervisors

Longo, M.
Tsagkroni, V.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en