Migration Systems and Policies

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At the Migration Institute of Finland, we understand migration as being shaped not only by individual decisions but also by policies, institutions and public debates. Our research examines how migration systems enable, regulate and constrain mobility, and how these systems change over time. We have particular expertise in migration governance, including the Aliens Act, integration policies, and diaspora policies. 

By studying how policies are implemented in practice, we have produced significant research on deportation, bordering, and migration control. Our work considers both the perspectives of policymakers and immigration authorities and the experiences of those whose lives are directly affected by these processes. 
We research a wide range of topics, including forced migration, family reunification, and international labour recruitment. We also analyse how migration is represented and discussed in the public sphere, especially in relation to forced migration and its portrayal in the media. 
 
Keywords: international recruitment, system transformation and transitions, diaspora strategies, diaspora policies, immigration act, asylum act, climate mobilities, migration policies, integration policies, deportation, bordering, Finnish immigration service, political discourses, media 

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