1. Volha Vysotskaya Jan Skrobanek Ute Karl
Mapping mobility – pathways, institutions and structural effects of youth mobility in Europe
Young people on the move: agency in the context of young people’s cross-border mobility experiences for work
Volha Vysotskaya Jan Skrobanek Ute Karl
Final MOVE Conference
Luxembourg
9 March 2018
The research from the MOVE project leading to these results has received funding from Horizon 2020 under Grant Agreement N°

2. State of art: Agency Bourdieu Giddens Emirbayer and Mische
capture notions of free will, choice and volitional action
agency is always with structure
agency is in everything
emphasis on temporal dimension
3 changing agentic orientations of agency
A and S are linked differently
agency in habitus
all persons have the
capacity of agency to “actively make the social world “
agency is only conscious understanding of a person’s perception of the situation
structure and agency are conceptualised as mutually constitutive
to ‘make a difference’, to exercise of power
iterational dimension (based on habits and schemas )
projective towards the future, imagination
practical-evaluative dimension -possibilities of the actual situation , judgement
agency is dominated by structure and the embodiment of the habitus
link A/S is romantic ( Collins (1992)
agency as “social and relational … since agency centres around the engagement by actors of the different contextual components that constitute their own structured yet flexible social universes” (Emirbayer and Mische 1998, 973)
do not show how A/S are interrelated
, the following theoretical reflections have marked a turn towards a more relational socio-ecological perspective in social research (Emirbayer and Mische 1998, Emirbayer and Goodwin 1994, Barnes 2000, Depelteau 2013, Powell 2013)

3. Point of departure Research aim
to understand mobility by including temporal dimension in mobility: three dimensions of habit, imagination, and judgement (HIJ)
temporal-relational contexts support particular agentic orientations” (Emirbayer and Mische 1998, 1004)
different patterns of the interlacement of habit, imagination, judgement, and a concrete (historical) situation can be identified in situations of mobility
elaborate on the possibilities to practically reconstruct agency within migration studies by analysing how young people speak retrospectively about the process of moving abroad for work- and employment-related purposes
Research aim
As their concept of agency is developed foremost theoretically, we further proceed and show how it can inspire the analysis of qualitative, narrative data in mobility research by focussing on the situation of young people going abroad for employment and the way they retrospectively give meaning to the decision process of going abroad. We will thus try to explore what it means to analyse agency from a relational perspective and to emphasise its embeddedness within the social context in which a person is involved

4. Data and Methods Grounded theory Agency as a sensitising concept
Reconstruction of the the interlacement of habit, imagination, and judgement in and with a concrete (historical) situation
Employment mobility
Young people between 18 and 29 years old
Various skills, male, female, mostly single
3 cases from the data corpus: 3 different patterns of the interlacement of agentic orientations
Nika from Iceland
Greta from Greece
Nicolas from Luxembourg

5. Case 1: Nika Challenges in going on with the habitualised while imagining a better future
no previous mobility
habitual orientations: security, economic wellbeing,
When I was going home from work, and I was paid I called my husband and said now we have to go. It was very little paid, so it is not easy (in Iceland), it is very expensive, you cannot save money to buy a house or apartment and the salary is not good
and wealth
habitual development caused by the emergence of a “mobility option”
Then I started to think about how we can make the life easier for our children, better salaries, try to do new things
imagination
optimistic of future through mobility
Future is linked with habitual orientations regarding her and her family’s socio-economic (in)security
I thought it will be easier in Norway, I suppose to get to the places we want to be faster, we can save up money here, and we can maybe build the house, this is his [husband] dream
open to future and positive outcome
Norway] gives me the feeling to think about the future
judgement
mobility frame: negative view on her chances vs.
an attractive alternative elsewhere
So, I called him [her husband] and said we had to move
connection between her own situational interpretation and a collective imagination of the situation
In Iceland, we always think about the future, we were nervous about everything, what will happen, is this going to be fine, but now we have started to learn a bit more just take one day in time and then see how it goes
26 years old
Married – 2 children
Iceland – Norway
Dreams and ambitions vs socio-economic hardships
Nika’s case shows how habitual orientations are put in question by certain life circumstances, and how habit-based action grows to be viewed as an obstacle to advancing in the country of origin. However, in connection with the image of a better future, she projects ways of maintaining habitualised economic- and security-oriented expectancies; the judgmental dimension is embedded in this interlinkage of the two orientations.

6. Case 1: Nicolas Why not be mobile
Case 1: Nicolas Why not be mobile? Living in the present and being open to opportunities coming to your life
habit
mobility as routine, curiosity driven
habitual orientations: flexibility, independence, mobility
Yes, I was looking [for a job] but that was difficult here in Luxembourg, also because I went back to live with my parents, and now I have been living alone for so long. So... after seven years of living alone, going back to your parents’ place is not like the best thing for you to happen if you like living a little bit more free
decision to look for other opportunities that fit his habitual practices—of being mobile
Absolutely, I would absolutely call it transition year, [that year] for me was coming back from University, looking for a job, couldn't find one, being back with my parents. So when the opportunity came to go to [town A in Germany] I was like OK, I will be living by myself again (00:07:25)
imagination
staying open to future
No job at home vs. doing uncommon mobility
95% of the people I know of my friends live in Luxembourg...I , I am the only one who is living abroad, and, friends are calling me: when are you coming back, when are you coming back, you know?
no fixed priorities
open towards the social environment and enjoying the life opportunities
I was not really uhm, looking for it but when it came, I, because I was not opposed to it, I was like: Why not?
judgement
mobility driven by opportunity, rather than of structural constraints
… getting my first job in a really nice town, there was nothing that, that could have kept me at that moment. I had no girlfriend
cultural capital gained and gained mobility experience allow him to adapt to anywhere
I never had like really problems to adapt to a place… So, I was used to that and, I mean in terms of culture yes there are some differences, but it is not like going to, I don't know, China or going to Africa. It is still European, so it is not like, really being in a very different world, you know? Of course, it is different but it is not like, you cannot adapt
Young,
Late 20s
From luxemoburg
Has a broad mobility experience
Ba- funs studies with friends
Ma – serious study, driven by professional interests
Open and not fixed to plans
Rich cultural capital ( languages)
H: What we may see in the passage is how Nicolas grabs an opportunity to become mobile again; on the one hand, he emphasises a lack of constraints, or aspects that might hinder his mobility, such as, for instance, a personal relationship. On the other hand, it is his habitual routine of being mobile that leads him to his first job, continuing a life he is used to: i.e. being on his own, away from his parents and independent.
I: Thus, mobility opportunities and related obstacles are primarily seen from an individualistic point of view rather than from the historical situation in which he lives. Nicolas’ vulnerability regarding the outcome of the job-related, cross-border mobility is, with respect to Nika and Greta, comparatively low.

7. Case 1: Greta Step by step towards realising life objectives in mobility
habit
socio economic situation vs. determines to come to the UK
habitual orientations: flexibility, independence, mobility
No, the thing is, I mean, the way things are in Greece right now, everybody is …looking around, and depending on the languages you speak, ...you're a bit limited if you don't go for England, then … your next option are international countries
decision to look for other opportunities that fit his habitual practices—of being mobile
I think that for Greek people, what makes sense, is to move to [city A in the UK] because most people do a Master in [city A in the UK], the next step is to find somewhere to work there and stay, and due to language barriers of course you're more comfortably moving in
imagination
present mobility phase is imagined from the viewpoint of her future , ( UK)
In, in [city A in the UK], you're one of a million. There the demand is quite high, so you might ... be able to find something, but it's gonna be ... very ... entry, entry level, so you will start by distributing coffees, and eh we already had some experience in Greece, so it was just easier to go, it's the second-best choice, because you can come through, eh with English. Any other destination would be more difficult
habitual and judgement orientation towards the move to Luxembourg is strongly rooted in her projection on the UK.
Her current mobility phase is temporary
Again, I ... will think at my first eh initial thought, but, I say that I have [city A in the UK] in mind, but that's like eh … five, six, seven year, plan …when I moved here, I, I felt like it was for more than eh, a year. but eh one year later, I feel happy with myself, you did a year
judgement
professional life to her own present situation, her age, her capabilities in the country of origin vs. open-minded towards future due to an unfamiliar environment in the new destination
I knew that I won't make the change a lot of times so I thought, that if I don't do it now, I will, I will do it more reluctantly, at 30, so if it fails, it's okay I can always go back or find something else, but eh for now, it felt good
linking social environment to her personal character
I was really straightened in the office, and and I heard a colleague was actually moving to Luxembourg and I started saying to myself, like, why don't you do it? Why don't you even try, I mean this is how it is here, it's not gonna change, so you need to make a change, and this is
Mid 20s
Grece
unlike them, she has a certain vision for her future to live in the UK, which she plans to realise by moving to Luxembourg. Throughout her interview, we see how Greta’s decision to come to Luxembourg was conscious and informed, unlike the many young people who come having little information about the country, when she says: “ Yes, then my final destination is [city A in the UK], but to get there, I feel that I should have more experiences in what I do ... to go there (00:05:45)”.

8. Analysis Case 1. Nika Case 2. Nikolas Case 3. Greta
Challenges in going on with the habitualised while imagining a better future
Why not be mobile? Living in the present and being open to opportunities coming to your life
Step by step towards realising life objectives in mobility
habit
security orientation
flexibility and adaptability
determination and planning
imagination
aspirations and hope for the future in the new country
determination for plan realisation
why not –keeping open and flexible
judgement
strong evaluation of the environment
adjustment environment to own objectives
opportunity over constraints
N. When describing the process of becoming mobile, she characterises her life as driven by many dreams and goals on the one hand, but with difficulties related to socio-economic security on the other. The dominant frames of reference in her life are ‘realising goals’, ‘happiness’ with the quality of everyday life, and the ‘prevention of insecurity’
NNComparing to the case of Nika, Nicolas is open and has not fixed his plans either in his present nor his future. His cultural capital (language skills) as well as his mobility experience allow him to be flexible without facing any hindrances to mobility.
G: : unlike them, she has a certain vision for her future to live in the UK, which she plans to realise by moving to Luxembourg

9. Some conclusions of agency through temporal dimensions
Discussion
Analysis shows: Interlacement of habit, imagination, and judgement in a particular (historical) situation in which the young live
Nicolas: looser impact of situational constraints
Nika: tight impact of situational constraints
Greta: possible ways of interlacing agentic orientations and their change through the mobility process
Some conclusions of agency through temporal dimensions
Young people base the habitual, imaginative and judgemental dimensions of agentic orientations in the socio-economic conditions
Young take other aspects of the opportunity structures into consideration (lifestyle opportunities)
Some young permanently oscillate between their agentic actions, situational constraints
Others appear more flexible, experimental, or “enfranchised” to manoeuvre
Hence:
continuum of action from a stronger link to structural constraints to a more situational-individualised perception
interlacement of habit, imagination, judgement in a concrete (historical) situation for, during or after mobility
argument demonstrates the empirical fruitfulness of the concept of Emirbayer and Mische
While in the case of Nicolas we find a looser impact of situational constraints (due to a more secure socio-economic background in the country of origin regarding the interlacement of agentic orientations and structure), Nika represents the other side of the continuum. In the case of Greta, we find various possible ways of interlacing agentic orientations and their change through the mobility process.
Carling and Collins dully noted that “migration theory needs to account for the multiplex componentry of migration, the way it is situated in imaginative geographies, emotional valences, social relations and obligations and politics and power relations, as well as in economic imperatives and the brute realities of displacement. (Carling and Collins 2017, 3). To this, our analysis adds calling for the need to account for embeddedness of individuals in various social environments together with account for the changing nature of migration process along individuals’ biographies across places