Return Migration: Myths, Realities, and Policy Implications
In this episode, Dr. Azher Hameed Qamar (University of Münster, COFUND Migration, Diaspora and Citizenship) hosts Prof. Michael Sharpe (York College, CUNY) for a conversation on the rising political and policy interest in return migration across Europe.
The discussion explores what “return migration” actually means, why governments are increasingly promoting it, and how public debates often misunderstand its effect. The episode also examines the push and pull factors shaping return decisions, the influence of restrictive immigration policies, and the consequences migrants face when returning to countries with fragile institutions, unsafe conditions, or limited reintegration support.
Podcast description (short version)
Episode Title: Return Migration: Trends, Misconceptions, and Policy Impacts Speaker: Prof. Michael Sharpe (York College, CUNY) – (https://www.york.cuny.edu/directory/msharpe) Host: Dr. Azher Hameed Qamar (COFUND Migration, Diaspora and Citizenship – University of Münster)
This episode unpacks the concept of return migration, including paid voluntary return programmes, the political narratives surrounding failed asylum seekers, and the limited effectiveness of current return policies. We discuss why policymakers push for return, how populist politics shape these agendas, and the risks migrants face when returning to countries with unsafe living conditions, dysfunctional banking systems, or limited future mobility.
Keywords
- Return migration
- Voluntary return
- Migration policy
- Populism
- Reintegration