Myth and decision in South African migration management and research

It begins by arguing that policy and inquiry in all policy subject areas are framed by sets of assumptions that define research agendas and limit how organizations and individuals consider complex social realities. More than in many fields, these cognitive boundaries, together with practical difficulties and embedded sets of ethical values heighten the power of myths over scientifically collected information in shaping migration policy and research.

By interrogating five myths surrounding migration in South Africa, this paper illustrates the need to question existing policy presumptions and research questions while highlighting the value of supplementing demographic and economic analyses with studies of institutional learning and policy formation.