The right to an adequate standard of living of migrant in border countries : structured, focused comparative analysis of Mexico and Turkey’s duties

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of institutions, law and international cooperation mechanisms in the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living of migrants, taking two countries as case studies, Mexico, and Turkey. To do this I conceptualized three independent qualitative variables, political institutions, legal settings, and international cooperation mechanisms, in the form of classes and subclasses, and compared them using Mill’s method of differences. Firstly, Institutions have a positive effect – despite not being quantified – on respect for the human rights of migrants, even if these can't guarantee the full protection of the right. Additionally, a vast legal setting is a great enabler of respect for the rights of migrants since it establishes minimum thresholds to be met. Third, the effect of international cooperation mechanisms is mixed, and it all depends on the observer. While it seems logical that all type of cooperation has a positive effect, underlying questions have to be made to balance responsibility for all the parties.