A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF CARIBBEAN RETURN MIGRATION FROM BRITAIN AND FRANCE - TOWARDS A CONTEXT-DEPENDENT EXPLANATION

The currently dominant element in the labour migration from the Caribb ean to Britain and France is a return flow of migrants. This paper foc uses on the migrations from the Commonwealth and the French Caribbean to Britain and France respectively. While these migrations are histori cally similar in origin, subsequent differences in the colonial and im migration policies of Britain and France have resulted in divergent mi gration trends and experiences. New sources of data are drawn on in th is comparative study of return migration to the Caribbean, providing u p-to-date information on the size and demographic characteristics of t he returnee populations. Equally important to this study is the sectio n of the migrant population who are likely to remain in Europe. The au thors argue that a comprehensive model of labour migration would need to incorporate the non-return situation in its dynamic entirety.