From “Brain Drain” to “Brain Loan”: Digital Media to the Rescue of Transnational Ties Among High-skilled Peruvian Migrants in Switzerland

Abstract

This thesis explores how digital media shape transnational belonging among high-skilled Peruvian migrants residing in Switzerland. It addresses four interrelated research questions: (a) What motivates migrants to maintain, reduce, or abandon ties with Peru? (b) How do different digital platforms facilitate or hinder these transnational connections? (c) How are national identity and belonging negotiated through digital interactions? and (d) To what extent do migrants establish themselves as a diaspora to exercise transnationality?Anchored in a theoretical framework that combines migration and digital media, digital diaspora, transnationalism, nation-building, and affordance theory, the study employs a qualitative methodology. It draws on 16 in-depth interviews with Peruvian migrants and expert voices to examine how digital tools intersect with emotions, identity, and institutional frameworks. Through thematic and comparative analysis, the findings reveal that emotional ties, particularly through kuyanakuy -the Andean ethic of reciprocal care—serve as a transversal force sustaining connections across cultural, social, and economic domains, even as political and institutional ties weaken.Digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube emerge as vital infrastructures for maintaining affective bonds, preserving cultural memory, and supporting family networks. Yet, this digital engagement is uneven and frequently constrained by institutional shortcomings, including outdated consular services, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and a lack of inclusive diaspora policies. As many participants envision long-term settlement and family life in Switzerland, the risk of symbolic detachment from Peru grows, particularly across generations.In response, the study proposes a shift from a “brain drain” narrative to a “brain loan” paradigm, recognizing that high-skilled migrants can represent a more meaningful contribution to Peru’s development through knowledge, networks, and digital engagement, if supported by proactive and reciprocal state mechanisms. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to Migration and Media Studies by offering nuanced insights into digital transnationalism in a Latin American high-skilled diaspora and by advancing practical recommendations for more inclusive, digitally enabled nation-building.

Keywords: digital diaspora, Peruvian migration, transnationality, digital media, nation building, migration policy, digital affordances