Global governance of international migration. Is this possible?

une voie possible ?

Abstract

In recent decades, the intensification of migrations due to political, religious, economic, and environmental reasons points to the need for joint responses between the territories of origin, transit, and destination of displaced individuals, also requiring an articulation between the local, national, regional, and supranational levels, and between governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations. In this sense, we discuss the possibility of forming a global governance of migrations, from the perspective of multilevel governance and studies on regime formation, to analyze how international migrations instigate a new decision-making model. We also present initial empirical evidence from ongoing research on policies for welcoming international migrants and refugees in Brazil between 2010 and 2017. We analyze the actors involved and the articulations established between them, as well as the role of the central government and subnational units in the decision-making and implementation of public policies for international migrants and refugees in Brazil. Our initial hypothesis was that, in the Brazilian case, within the scope observed, there would be a dispersion of authority for the formulation and execution of public policies, from the central government to both supranational entities and subnational governments. Results of the analysis showed, however, that the governance arrangements identified in this theme show low adhesion of actors from central or subnational governmental spheres, weak institutionalization of policies, and social protection of a private, strongly assistencialist and philanthropic character, provided mainly by church entities, non-governmental organizations, and civil society associations.