Discourses About the Reasons for Migrating to Chile. From Expulsion to Seeking Professional Fulfilment

Abstract

The paper intends to contribute to understanding the factors leading to the decision to migrate and choose Chile as a destination. Techniques of dialogic inquiry have been used to analyze three groups of migrants (Colombians, Venezuelans, and Spaniards) residing in the Los Lagos Region. The sociological discourse analysis has been used to process the information. The emerging narratives showed four discourse types with respect to migration: forced, traditional labor, professional growth, and the search for professional fulfillment. It is shown that the economic dimension of migration loses relevance while the socio-political circumstances of the sending countries and personal projects and expectations of migrants gain heuristic value.