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Sandhya A.S. new book unpacks how migration brokerage in Nepal is not just about individual actors but a complex market shaped by states, policies, and social legitimacy. In this episode you will hear about stories of migrants, the blurred lines between legality and legitimacy, and the forces that structure trust, stigma, and vulnerability. Our guests also reflect on how crises like COVID-19 reveal the fragility and adaptability of these markets, and what that means for policies and migrant welfare.

Zhenwei Wang´s book originated from her doctoral dissertation at Bielefeld University's Faculty of Sociology, which was awarded the annual Dissertation Prize by Universitätsgesellschaft Bielefeld (UGBi) in 2026.

Renowned anthropologist Arjun Appadurai and our host Hairuo Jin are discussing Appadurai´s classic book "Banking On Words: The Failure of Language in the Age of Derivative Finance".