Policy (In)Coherence for Development: Narratives of International Migration in the Swedish PGD framework

Abstract: Policy Coherence for Development is a concept, framework and tool for achieving a more effective and organized global development agenda. Under the principles of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), the potential conflicts of objectives between various policy areas should be identified and preferably resolved – with developmental objectives in mind. The PCD has named some policy areas as “expected incoherencies” meaning that the conflicts of objectives they present are typically difficult solve. This thesis problematizes PCD in its lack of definition and guidance on handling expected incoherencies. The research presented is in the form of a case study of the Swedish PCD framework called “Policies for Global Development” (PGD) and concerns one particular expected incoherency, namely international migration. Through a discourse analysis this thesis presents that formal and informal narratives in the Swedish PGD implicitly reveal a migration optimistic stance towards the expected incoherency. Founded upon values of mainly neo-liberal market beliefs and human rights values, the narrational stances principally prioritize the state interest over the global development agenda. Because of this, the Swedish framework portrays a policy situation in which synergies are fostered while the incoherency itself remains and becomes latent. The conclusion of the analysis holds that the migration- development policy nexus is an actualization of the conflictual role of the nation state in a globalizing world.