Venezuelan Migration in Latin America and the Caribbeans: A Review

Faculty Member Name: Yvonne Su
Faculty Member email: yvonnesu@yorku.ca
Department/School: Department of Equity Studies
Project Title: Venezuelan Migration in Latin America and the Caribbeans: A Review

Description of Research Project:

Over the past 10 years, 7.7 million Venezuelans have left their country due to violence, insecurity, threats, and a lack of food, medicine, and essential services. Of those, 85% of Venezuelans fled to neighbouring countries. Despite this, the media has narrowly focused on news around Venezuelans going to the United States. The objective of this research project is to carry out a systematic review of the academic literature, gray literature, and policy documents around Venezuelan migration in Latin American and the Caribbeans.

The systematic review will help better understand the dynamic nature of this migration flow and help grasp the factors behind the intricate decision-making that impacts this type of regional and circular mobility and the long-term consequences of innovative regional responses pioneered by host countries. Additionally, through the review we can explore significant questions posed by this extensive and historic migration, such as "Should we speak about 'economic asylum' when a country's economy collapses?". What are the gaps within Global North theories when applied to explaining Venezuelan mobilities and providing policy options that are context and regionally specific? A variety of scholars have been separately working to explore these questions and develop policy solutions to address Venezuelan migration and this review will help pull it all together.

The literature review will be used to inform larger research projects on this topic. It may also be used to write academic blogs and academic journal articles.

Undergraduate Student Responsibilities:

• Develop a plan of research to complete an annotated bibliography and literature review
• Completion of annotated bibliography and literature review on migration of Venezuelans in Latin America and the Caribbeans
• Write up the findings of the research in blogs and academic articles
• Meet regularly with Professor Su to discuss findings and map research priorities

Qualifications Required:

• Ability to read and write in Spanish is required
• Excellent research skills, and experience writing annotated bibliographies and literature reviews
• Excellent written, verbal, and digital communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently
• Working knowledge of migration studies

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