Leading scholars in the sociology of migration, Michaela Benson and Karen O’Reilly, re-theorise lifestyle migration through a sustained focus on postcolonialism at its intersections with neoliberalism. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the interplay of colonial traces and neoliberal presents, the relationship between residential tourism and economic development, and the governance and regulation of lifestyle migration. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork undertaken by the authors among lifestyle migrants in Malaysia and Panama, they reveal the structural and material conditions that support migration and how these are embodied by migrant subjects, while also highlighting their agency within this process. This rigorous work marks an important contribution to emerging debates surrounding privileged migration and mobility. It will appeal to sociologists, social theorists, human and cultural geographers, economists, social psychologists, demographers, social anthropologists, tourism and migration studies specialists.
Leading scholars in the sociology of migration, Michaela Benson and Karen O’Reilly, re-theorise lifestyle migration through a sustained focus on postcolonialism at its intersections with neoliberalism. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the interplay of colonial traces and neoliberal presents, the relationship between residential tourism and economic development, and the governance and regulation of lifestyle migration. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork undertaken by the authors among lifestyle migrants in Malaysia and Panama, they reveal the structural and material conditions that support migration and how these are embodied by migrant subjects, while also highlighting their agency within this process. This rigorous work marks an important contribution to emerging debates surrounding privileged migration and mobility. It will appeal to sociologists, social theorists, human and cultural geographers, economists, social psychologists, demographers, social anthropologists,tourism and migration studies specialists.
Michaela Benson
residential tourism postcolonialism lifestyle migration neoliberalism colonialism elite migration Imperialism lifestyle Tourism privileged migration Expat Malaysia Panama practice theory wellbeing
“Benson and O’Reilly retrace the interplay between lifestyle migrants’ ground-level practices in Penang, Malaysia and Boquete, Panama and postcolonial heritage of and current neoliberal policies in these locations with a careful attention to the hows of their reciprocal entanglements. This interesting book should be read by migration researchers in all subfields of this specialization.” (Ewa Morwska, University of Essex, UK)
“This book encapsulates the quality of both O’Reilly and Benson’s skills as both theorists and ethnographers in migration scholarship. Their work collectively in lifestyle migration culminates in this piece and delivers an astounding depth of material for anyone who works in this space but also broadly for those who work on globalisation, migration and tourism research.” (Nick Osbaldiston, James Cook University, Australia)