Navigating national populism and migration governance

This global diffusion of populist-driven migration narratives challenges the assumption that restrictive migration rhetoric is a uniquely Global North phenomenon, revealing a broader crisis of political imagination around migration in the Global South. In many developing countries, political narratives portraying migration as a risk to national identity, economic security or public order are gaining momentum (IOM 2022b; Wajner et al. 2024), even as migration continues to play a crucial role in supporting local economies and fostering regional integration (IOM 2024; AU Commission 2018). From humanitarian actors, migration governance and policy perspectives (UNHCR 2024; IOM 2024), it is important to unpack how these trends are impacting migration systems, human rights protections and broader development goals. This article takes a policy-focused view to assess the drivers and consequences of anti-migration rhetoric in the Global South.  

At the same time, media narratives have played a central role in influencing how migration is understood and debated across the Global South (IOM 2022b). Unfortunately, in many contexts, these narratives are driven by misinformation, sensationalism and polarized reporting. Klein (2024) points out that the rapid growth of social media has further amplified these distortions, enabling anti-migrant sentiments to circulate widely, often unchecked and without factual grounding. Without consistent fact-based reporting and transparent government communication, public discourse becomes vulnerable to manipulation by political elites and interest groups (Akinola, 2020). These dynamics undermine public understanding of migration and place additional pressure on governments to adopt exclusionary measures.

‘…portraying migrants and displaced populations as scapegoats for broader socioeconomic challenges’

This distorted perception persists despite the well-documented socioeconomic benefits of migration. Remittance flows to low-and middle-income countries reached an estimated US$685 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank; exceeding foreign direct investment in many regions (Ratha et al. 2024). Yet these financial contributions are rarely highlighted in public debates or policy discourse as national development assets. Initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) recognize the importance of labour mobility and the free movement of people as critical enablers of regional economic growth (AU Commission n.d.). Still, anti-migrant narratives continue to dominate national dialogues.

Reframing the migration conversation around its actual impacts supported by data and lived experiences is vital for cultivating more constructive and inclusive attitudes. As public discourse becomes increasingly polarized, policymakers in the Global South are finding themselves navigating a complex landscape, where perception often outweighs evidence. Populist-driven narratives have led to reactive policy responses, such as heightened border surveillance, the temporary suspension of asylum procedures or new laws targeting irregular migration; often intended to signal toughness rather than address root causes (Wajner et al. 2024; IOM 2022b; Miller-Idriss 2019). These measures, while politically expedient, often fail to address the structural causes of migration and displacement. For instance, regional integration efforts in East Africa have been strained by national-level political tensions, even as countries remain signatories to frameworks like the IGAD Free Movement Protocol (CSIS, 2024).

However, the Global South is far broader than IGAD. Regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in West Africa and Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in South America have also adopted mobility frameworks that aim to harmonize migration rules, though their effectiveness varies (IOM 2020). These variations reflect differing political contexts, economic priorities and institutional capacities across regions. Understanding these diverse models of regional mobility governance is essential to moving beyond one-size-fits-all critiques of migration policy and appreciating the innovative efforts underway to facilitate legal, safe and orderly migration within the Global South.

In Latin America, governments such as Costa Rica have implemented executive measures that affect asylum protections. Recent reforms restricted access to refugee status determination, limiting asylum-seekers' ability to access work permits or regular stay (UNHCR 2023). These changes risk undermining key global commitments, including the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Migration Governance Framework (MiGOF), both of which emphasize human rights, cooperation and inclusion in migration systems (IOM 2024).

While restrictive policies may offer temporary political capital, they rarely reflect the broader realities of migration in the Global South. Unlike migration regimes in the Global North, migration across developing regions is largely shaped by proximity, historical ties, informal ties and economic interdependence. In fact, South-South migration now accounts for nearly 39% of all international migration flows, underlining its scale and significance in the global context (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2019). Triangular cooperation has also become a valuable mechanism for capacity building, policy innovation and knowledge exchange in migration governance (IOM 2022a). These collaborative models provide a counterweight to unilateral and exclusionary approaches, and help reinforce solidarity across the Global South.

Labour mobility, remittance flows and informal cross-border trade are central to regional development strategies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. For many communities, migration is not a crisis but a long-standing coping mechanism, one that supports household incomes, sustains small businesses and strengthens resilience to climate or economic shocks. Yet these contributions are often overlooked in both political narratives and public policy. In several African countries, for example, intra-regional migration provides critical labour for agriculture, mining and domestic work – sectors often undervalued in national planning but vital for economic stability. At the same time, remittances from migrants have become lifelines for millions of families, accounting for as much as 20% of GDP in some fragile states (World Bank 2024).

'Reframing the migration conversation around its actual impacts ... is vital for cultivating more constructive and inclusive attitudes.'

In conclusion, to move beyond reactive and exclusionary approaches, there is an urgent need to reframe migration as a driver of development and regional cooperation. Shifting the narrative requires coordinated efforts among governments, international organizations, media institutions and civil society. Reframing the migration conversation around its actual impacts, supported by data and lived experiences, is vital for cultivating more constructive and inclusive attitudes. Organizations like the IOM play a key role in promoting evidence-based dialogue, supporting policy reforms and aligning national strategies with global and regional frameworks. Crucially, the fight against anti-migration populism is not only a policy challenge but a discursive battle over whose stories, contributions and futures are allowed to shape the national imagination. Strengthening migration governance also requires investment in public awareness, community engagement and amplifying the voices of migrants themselves. By anchoring migration policy in facts, cooperation and human rights, states can push back against populist pressures and build systems that benefit both migrants and host communities.