Migration is a pivotal issue in today's global landscape. While dominant narratives often highlight South–North flows, particularly toward Europe and North America, this focus hides the fact that most migration occurs within the Global South. In regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America, South–South migration substantially influences development, governance, and identity. Intra-regional mobility bolsters households through remittances, boosts economic growth, and encourages cultural exchange. However, it also brings challenges, such as rising xenophobia and Afrophobia, contested national identities, and policy inconsistencies. Complications like climate-related displacement and crises like the COVID-19 pandemic further strain border management and migration governance. Addressing these issues requires refocusing scholarly and policy discussions on South–South mobility and recognizing its pivotal role in shaping developmental pathways and achieving frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa's Agenda 2063.

Despite the centrality of South–South migration to development and regional integration, it remains underexplored, overshadowed by the more traditional South–North focus. Intra-regional migrants significantly contribute to economies via remittances, labor, and cultural connection, yet their movements are often perceived as crises rather than opportunities for progress. This creates pressing challenges: heightened xenophobia, contested identities, and fragile border management amid pandemics, conflicts, and climate change. This Research Topic aims to explore these dynamics by concentrating on the transformative potential of South–South migration within global contexts, examining ways it can facilitate development while addressing the tensions it creates. Leveraging interdisciplinary analysis and inclusive policymaking, this research aims to frame migration as a force for transformation.

This Research Topic explores South–South migration as a transformative power in the Global South, presenting mobility beyond the conventional South–North narrative. It aims to unearth how intra-regional migration interconnects with development, identity, governance, and resilience in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. By placing South–South mobility at the heart of global discussions, this initiative seeks to provide nuanced perspectives on its opportunities and challenges.

Specific themes include:

• mobility as transformation: How intra-regional migration reshapes economies, education, and cultural exchange

• beyond borders: Policy frameworks, free movement protocols, and contested border regimes

• rethinking migration: Migrant voices, lived experiences, and alternative development pathways

• from within: The role of South–South migration in advancing Agenda 2063 and the UN SDGs

• the hidden story: Identity formation, belonging, xenophobia, and Afrophobia

• resilience and resistance: Migration amid crises such as climate change, conflict, and pandemics

• global South rising: South–South migration as a catalyst for global development and geopolitical change.

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Rethinking South–South Migration and Development