Migration is one of the leading global policy concerns of our times. International migration from Ethiopia has been on the rise in recent years, as a large number of Ethiopian youth move out of the country in search of better lives. More often than not, migration from Ethiopia (and other parts of the continent) is seen from the perspective of the proverbial 'push' and 'pull' factors. Consequently, the Ethiopian government and western donors promote the idea that 'irregular' migration from Ethiopia could be stemmed by a combination of development and law enforcement interventions.
However, this perspective fails to understand the nuances that explain why these migrants decide to leave the country. In order to explore these nuances, Youth on the Move: Views from Below on Ethiopian International Migration goes beyond macro-level discussions to bring insights into individual and community-level perspectives, and examines the roles that are played by individuals and social networks in facilitating the movement of youth across international boundaries.
From analyzing these perspectives, this book will argue that youth migration is context specific, meaning that policy interventions should be contextualized, and that current explanations for migration decisions deny potential migrants agency.