Lectio praecursoria: Theory of control tuning – the processing of control in migration-related place coping
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11143/fennia.79471Abstract
In this lectio praecursoria, which I presented as part of my doctoral defence at the University of Helsinki on 26 October 2018, I introduce a new migration-related control theory that I developed in my doctoral research. The theory of control tuning is a middle-range theory that closes the gap between empirical data and formal theory. The theory is mainly based on primary data from South Sudanese migration, which I brought from the descriptive level to the conceptual level by using classic grounded theory methodology. The theory of control tuning explains how various migration actors process control in their everyday life in order to manage and govern feelings, information, actions and people as well as ownership of situations and objects. Control tuning refers to the action of modifying control, and it occurs through particular control-tuning paths. These control-tuning paths consist of control-tuning causes, strategies, outcomes, intervening factors and conditions. Control-tuning paths appear in relation to the behavioural arena of migration. This behavioural arena includes the elements, circumstances, relationships and objects of the physical, social, political, cultural and economic world with which migration actors come into contact and interact. The main activities in the behavioural arena of migration are place coping, knowledge dealing, encountering authority and link keeping. The theory of control tuning demonstrates that control tuning occurs regardless of whether migration is international or internal or forced or voluntary and irrespective of the status of a migrant, or whether the actor is a local resident or an authority, or whether migration actors move or stay put. Moreover, the theory of control tuning demonstrates that control has significance for individuals and groups of migration actors.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2019 Saija Niemi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Fennia agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. The license of the published metadata is Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a doctoral dissertation or book compilation), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
.png)



