Masja van Meeteren works as an Assistant Professor in the department of Criminology at Leiden University.

"[T]his ground-breaking study... shows how the focus of previous research on structures and control has led to misleading views on irregular migration." -- Stephen Castles, University of Sydney"A solid and valuable book, a major addition to the literature of a topic which commands increasing attention in Western societies" --Joaquín Arango, Complutense University of Madrid

• CHAPTER 1: IRREGULAR MIGRATION AS A FACT OF LIFE CHAPTER 2: BEYOND VICTIMS AND COMMUNITIES: BRINGING IN ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 3: STUDYING ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 4: IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS CHAPTER 5: INVESTMENT, SETTLEMENT AND LEGALISATION ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 6: LIVING DIFFERENT DREAMS (I): ASPIRATIONS AND FUNCTIONAL INCORPORATION CHAPTER 7: LIVING DIFFERENT DREAMS (II): ASPIRATIONS AND SOCIAL INCORPORATION CHAPTER 8: ASPIRATIONS AND TRANSNATIONAL ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 9: STRIVING FOR A BETTER POSITION: ASPIRATIONS AND THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CAPITAL CHAPTER 10: ASSESSING A NEW PERSPECTIVE, References, Appendices.

Masja van Meeteren works as an Assistant Professor in the department of Criminology at Leiden University.

"[T]his ground-breaking study... shows how the focus of previous research on structures and control has led to misleading views on irregular migration." -- Stephen Castles, University of Sydney"A solid and valuable book, a major addition to the literature of a topic which commands increasing attention in Western societies" --Joaquín Arango, Complutense University of Madrid

• CHAPTER 1: IRREGULAR MIGRATION AS A FACT OF LIFE CHAPTER 2: BEYOND VICTIMS AND COMMUNITIES: BRINGING IN ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 3: STUDYING ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 4: IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS CHAPTER 5: INVESTMENT, SETTLEMENT AND LEGALISATION ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 6: LIVING DIFFERENT DREAMS (I): ASPIRATIONS AND FUNCTIONAL INCORPORATION CHAPTER 7: LIVING DIFFERENT DREAMS (II): ASPIRATIONS AND SOCIAL INCORPORATION CHAPTER 8: ASPIRATIONS AND TRANSNATIONAL ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 9: STRIVING FOR A BETTER POSITION: ASPIRATIONS AND THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CAPITAL CHAPTER 10: ASSESSING A NEW PERSPECTIVE, References, Appendices.

Masja van Meeteren works as an Assistant Professor in the department of Criminology at Leiden University.

"[T]his ground-breaking study... shows how the focus of previous research on structures and control has led to misleading views on irregular migration." -- Stephen Castles, University of Sydney"A solid and valuable book, a major addition to the literature of a topic which commands increasing attention in Western societies" --Joaquín Arango, Complutense University of Madrid

• CHAPTER 1: IRREGULAR MIGRATION AS A FACT OF LIFE CHAPTER 2: BEYOND VICTIMS AND COMMUNITIES: BRINGING IN ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 3: STUDYING ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 4: IMMIGRATION POLICIES IN BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS CHAPTER 5: INVESTMENT, SETTLEMENT AND LEGALISATION ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER 6: LIVING DIFFERENT DREAMS (I): ASPIRATIONS AND FUNCTIONAL INCORPORATION CHAPTER 7: LIVING DIFFERENT DREAMS (II): ASPIRATIONS AND SOCIAL INCORPORATION CHAPTER 8: ASPIRATIONS AND TRANSNATIONAL ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 9: STRIVING FOR A BETTER POSITION: ASPIRATIONS AND THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CAPITAL CHAPTER 10: ASSESSING A NEW PERSPECTIVE, References, Appendices.