The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in The Gambia

Omar N. Cham; Florian Trauner; Ilke Adam

doi:10.1111/imig.70036

The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in The Gambia

Omar N. Cham, Florian Trauner, Ilke Adam

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

94 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The EU tries to dissuade potential migrants from coming to Europe irregularly. However, can EU-promoted narratives compete with local ones and actually influence migratory decision-making? This article investigates how local migration narratives of potential migrants interrelate with the narratives put forward in EU-funded migration information campaigns. Building upon focus groups and interviews conducted in the Gambia, the article demonstrates that there is a clear mismatch between locally held narratives and the EU-promoted narratives. Contrary to the EU campaigns, the Gambian narratives put to the forefront the opportunities for a positive life change enabled by a person migrating to Europe. An exception has been the issue of risks during a migratory journey featuring strongly in EU campaigns, which correlates with the local narratives. However, information is only one factor influencing migratory decision-making, with more relevant ones being livelihood opportunities and the material and social rewards associated with a successful migration.

Original language	English
Article number	e70036
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Number of pages	14
Journal	International Migration
Volume	63
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70036
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
\u2018We suffered a lot because the way Libyans treat us is too hard. Myself, I've been in jail for 8\u2009months. I am in prison without no reason\u2019. This is a brief excerpt from a video testimony of a Gambian man named Moro while describing his failed attempt to migrate to Europe (\u2018Aware Migrants\u2019\u2010Project, 2018 ). Part of a larger campaign funded by the Italian Ministry of Interior, the video aims to make African migrants aware of the dangers of travelling through the Sahara Desert and Libya to Europe (Musar\u00F2, 2019 ). There are many similar videos circulating on social media\u2014and it does not stop there: theatre plays, film projections and testimonies of returning migrants who recount their experiences are part of the broader deterrence narratives deployed to discourage \u2018irregular\u2019 emigration. Financed by the EU or individual member states, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is usually the implementer on the ground. In addition, local Non\u2010Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, such as Returnees' groups, have been widely engaged in the implementation of campaigns as well.

Funding Information:
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101004564.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 International Organization for Migration.

Access to Document

10.1111/imig.70036

Cham, Trauner & Adam 2025Accepted author manuscript, 386 KB

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@article{75ababb50a1c45d48f2346f30fc7ffd3,

title = "The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in The Gambia",

abstract = "The EU tries to dissuade potential migrants from coming to Europe irregularly. However, can EU-promoted narratives compete with local ones and actually influence migratory decision-making? This article investigates how local migration narratives of potential migrants interrelate with the narratives put forward in EU-funded migration information campaigns. Building upon focus groups and interviews conducted in the Gambia, the article demonstrates that there is a clear mismatch between locally held narratives and the EU-promoted narratives. Contrary to the EU campaigns, the Gambian narratives put to the forefront the opportunities for a positive life change enabled by a person migrating to Europe. An exception has been the issue of risks during a migratory journey featuring strongly in EU campaigns, which correlates with the local narratives. However, information is only one factor influencing migratory decision-making, with more relevant ones being livelihood opportunities and the material and social rewards associated with a successful migration. ",

author = "Cham, {Omar N.} and Florian Trauner and Ilke Adam",

note = "Funding Information: \u2018We suffered a lot because the way Libyans treat us is too hard. Myself, I've been in jail for 8\u2009months. I am in prison without no reason\u2019. This is a brief excerpt from a video testimony of a Gambian man named Moro while describing his failed attempt to migrate to Europe (\u2018Aware Migrants\u2019\u2010Project, 2018 ). Part of a larger campaign funded by the Italian Ministry of Interior, the video aims to make African migrants aware of the dangers of travelling through the Sahara Desert and Libya to Europe (Musar\u00F2, 2019 ). There are many similar videos circulating on social media\u2014and it does not stop there: theatre plays, film projections and testimonies of returning migrants who recount their experiences are part of the broader deterrence narratives deployed to discourage \u2018irregular\u2019 emigration. Financed by the EU or individual member states, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is usually the implementer on the ground. In addition, local Non\u2010Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, such as Returnees' groups, have been widely engaged in the implementation of campaigns as well. Funding Information: This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101004564. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 International Organization for Migration.",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1111/imig.70036",

language = "English",

volume = "63",

pages = "1--14",

journal = "International Migration",

issn = "0020-7985",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in The Gambia

AU - Cham, Omar N.

AU - Trauner, Florian

AU - Adam, Ilke

N1 - Funding Information: \u2018We suffered a lot because the way Libyans treat us is too hard. Myself, I've been in jail for 8\u2009months. I am in prison without no reason\u2019. This is a brief excerpt from a video testimony of a Gambian man named Moro while describing his failed attempt to migrate to Europe (\u2018Aware Migrants\u2019\u2010Project, 2018 ). Part of a larger campaign funded by the Italian Ministry of Interior, the video aims to make African migrants aware of the dangers of travelling through the Sahara Desert and Libya to Europe (Musar\u00F2, 2019 ). There are many similar videos circulating on social media\u2014and it does not stop there: theatre plays, film projections and testimonies of returning migrants who recount their experiences are part of the broader deterrence narratives deployed to discourage \u2018irregular\u2019 emigration. Financed by the EU or individual member states, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is usually the implementer on the ground. In addition, local Non\u2010Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, such as Returnees' groups, have been widely engaged in the implementation of campaigns as well. Funding Information: This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101004564. Publisher Copyright: © 2025 International Organization for Migration.

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - The EU tries to dissuade potential migrants from coming to Europe irregularly. However, can EU-promoted narratives compete with local ones and actually influence migratory decision-making? This article investigates how local migration narratives of potential migrants interrelate with the narratives put forward in EU-funded migration information campaigns. Building upon focus groups and interviews conducted in the Gambia, the article demonstrates that there is a clear mismatch between locally held narratives and the EU-promoted narratives. Contrary to the EU campaigns, the Gambian narratives put to the forefront the opportunities for a positive life change enabled by a person migrating to Europe. An exception has been the issue of risks during a migratory journey featuring strongly in EU campaigns, which correlates with the local narratives. However, information is only one factor influencing migratory decision-making, with more relevant ones being livelihood opportunities and the material and social rewards associated with a successful migration.

AB - The EU tries to dissuade potential migrants from coming to Europe irregularly. However, can EU-promoted narratives compete with local ones and actually influence migratory decision-making? This article investigates how local migration narratives of potential migrants interrelate with the narratives put forward in EU-funded migration information campaigns. Building upon focus groups and interviews conducted in the Gambia, the article demonstrates that there is a clear mismatch between locally held narratives and the EU-promoted narratives. Contrary to the EU campaigns, the Gambian narratives put to the forefront the opportunities for a positive life change enabled by a person migrating to Europe. An exception has been the issue of risks during a migratory journey featuring strongly in EU campaigns, which correlates with the local narratives. However, information is only one factor influencing migratory decision-making, with more relevant ones being livelihood opportunities and the material and social rewards associated with a successful migration.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105002711714&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/imig.70036

DO - 10.1111/imig.70036

M3 - Article

SN - 0020-7985

VL - 63

SP - 1

EP - 14

JO - International Migration

JF - International Migration

IS - 3

M1 - e70036

ER -

The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in The Gambia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Fingerprint

SRP79: SRP-Onderzoekszwaartepunt: Enhancing Democratic Governance in Europe (EDGE)

Cite this

The role of EU-promoted versus local narratives in migratory decision-making in The Gambia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

SRP79: SRP-Onderzoekszwaartepunt: Enhancing Democratic Governance in Europe (EDGE)

Cite this