Is 鈥渃lass鈥� a metaphor in migration studies? A cursory review of recent literature suggests 鈥渃lass鈥� is sometimes central to analysis (e.g. Bonjour & Chauvin,聽; Kofman,聽; Robertson & Roberts,聽; Rye,聽; Stock,聽). However more often, 鈥渃lass鈥� is mentioned as a figure of speech, symbolically referring to socio-economic dimensions of difference. The economic dimensions are often explicit but vague, e.g. 鈥渓ow skilled鈥�, 鈥渉igh skilled鈥�, 鈥渨orking class鈥� or 鈥減rivileged鈥�. Links to social and cultural spheres are often implicit, echoing the influence of Bourdieu's conceptualization of social, cultural and economic capital (Oliver & O'Reilly,聽). Thus, 鈥渃lass鈥� sometimes assumes the function of a metaphor, suggesting that there lies potential in further reflection on how the term is used in order to enhance contextual depth and analytical generalization in migration research.
Erdal, Marta Bivand (2025) Do we need more or less focus on 鈥渃lass鈥� in migration research?, International Migration. DOI: .
