In this episode, Gracia Liu-Farrer, a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute of Asian Migrations, discusses the evolving landscape of skilled migration in Asia, particularly in Japan. She dives into how skills are socially constructed and perceived, highlighting the need for policy reforms amidst demographic crises. Liu-Farrer also addresses the de-skilling phenomenon faced by skilled migrants and the economic challenges of labor export. Her insights shed light on the role of migration in social identity and the need for recognition of diverse migration experiences.
29:02
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Personal Inspiration
Gracia Liu-Farrer's interest in migration stems from her childhood in China.
Witnessing the stark differences between a small town and a big city sparked her curiosity.
insights INSIGHT
Skill-Based Migration
Skill-based migration policies arose in the 1960s, replacing discriminatory criteria.
Two main selection methods exist: human capital-based and labor market-oriented.
insights INSIGHT
Discriminatory Roots
While seemingly less discriminatory, skill-based migration can perpetuate biases.
Colonial legacies influence perceptions of skill, associating certain ethnicities with specific job types.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Mobility and Belonging in an Ethno-nationalist Society
Gracia Liu-Farrer
Gracia Liu-Farrer's "Immigrant Japan" delves into the complexities of immigrant experiences and belonging within Japan's ethno-nationalist society. The book examines the challenges faced by immigrants in navigating Japanese society, including issues of identity, integration, and social acceptance. It explores the ways in which immigrants negotiate their identities and create communities within a context of often subtle but pervasive exclusion. The book also analyzes the broader societal implications of immigration for Japan's demographic trends and social fabric. It offers valuable insights into the dynamics of immigration and integration in a nation grappling with its evolving identity.
Labour Migration from China to Japan
Labour Migration from China to Japan
International Students, Transnational Migrants
Gracia Liu-Farrer
Gracia Liu-Farrer's "Labour Migration from China to Japan" offers a comprehensive analysis of the experiences of Chinese migrants in Japan. The book examines the various pathways through which Chinese individuals migrate to Japan, including student visas and other forms of transnational mobility. It explores the challenges and opportunities faced by these migrants in navigating Japanese society and integrating into the workforce. The study also sheds light on the broader implications of Chinese migration for Japan's demographic landscape and economic development. The book contributes significantly to the understanding of migration patterns and the socio-economic integration of migrants in a rapidly changing global context.
Routledge Handbook of Asian Migration
Routledge Handbook of Asian Migration
null
Gracia Liu-Farrer
Brenda Yeoh
Guest Professor Gracia Liu-Farrer (Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies) joins MC Assistant Professor Robert Fahey (Waseda Institute for Advanced Study) to explore skill-based migration policies in Asia, a region with more people on the move than any other. Japan features heavily in the discussion, with its increasingly liberal migration policies despite its persistent image as a country comparatively closed to immigration. Professor Liu-Farrer also explains the social construction of skill—how skill is constructed and valued in political, social, and economic contexts—and how migration stands to address societal issues such as demographic crises and labor shortages both in Asia and more broadly.
Dr. Gracia Liu-Farrer is Professor of Sociology at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, and Director of Institute of Asian Migrations, Waseda University, Japan. Her research investigates cross-border migration and immigrants’ socioeconomic and geographic mobility in Asia and Europe. Her articles have appeared in International Migration Review, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies and International Migration. She co-edited Routledge Handbook of Asian Migration (2018, with Brenda Yeoh) and authored monographs Labour Migration from China to Japan: International Students, Transnational Migrants (Routledge, 2011) and Immigrant Japan: Mobility and Belonging in an Ethno-nationalist Society (Cornell University Press, 2020).
MC Assistant Professor Robert Fahey
Dr. Robert A. Fahey is an assistant professor of political science at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests include populism, polarisation, the effects of conspiracy theory belief, and Japanese politics. He is currently working on a series of large-scale surveys aimed at discovering what kinds of conspiracy beliefs are widespread in East Asian countries, and how those beliefs impact the political and social life of those nations.
Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact