POWER AS PRACTICE IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: RECRUITMENT AGENCIES AND DOMESTIC WORKER MIGRATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Abstract

THIS DISSERTATION EXAMINES THE ROLE OF RECRUITMENT AGENCIES IN THE `MIGRATION INDUSTRY¿ OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. AGENCIES FORM THE BACKBONE OF WHAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED A GLOBALISING TRADE IN SERVICES THAT IS NOT REGULATED IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER LABOUR MARKETS. THESE MARKETS HAVE ENJOYED RELATIVE STABILITY FOR THE LAST THREE DECADES WITH A BARE MODICUM OF FORMAL GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS. WHAT EXPLAINS THE PRODUCTION AND REPRODUCTION OF THIS PHENOMENON ARE THE PRACTICES OF RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WHICH LAY `PIPELINES¿ THAT SUPPLY DOMESTIC WORKERS TO CAPITAL CITIES IN ASIA. DRAWING FROM A MULTI-SITED ETHNOGRAPHY CONDUCTED IN MANILA, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR AND SINGAPORE, I ARGUE THAT THESE AGENCIES ARE BEST STUDIED AS SITES WHERE PRACTICES OCCUR RATHER THAN AS AGENTS IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE. SHIFTING THE ANALYTICAL FOCUS ON PRACTICES MEANS RETHINKING GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AS SOCIAL RELATIONS OF POWER, REVEALING PATTERNS OF ORDER THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE NOT RECOGNISE.