International Migration

How can types of migration be classified?

By scale, direction, distance, decision making and causes.

Voluntary migration

people who choose to move due to pull factors, work, retirement of family reasons. → economic migrants.

Forced migration

Has to migrate because of particular circumstances, natural disasters, political safety etc. → asylum seekers and refugees.

Refugee

A person forced to leave their country, fleeing from civil war, natural disaster, etc. but not necessarily fear of persecution. Legally is an asylum seeker whose application has been successful.

Asylum seeker

A person who has fled their origin country and applied for asylum on the grounds that they cannot return to their country over fears of death or persecution.

Economic migrant

A person who has voluntarily left their country of origin to seek by lawful or unlawful means employment in another country.

Push factors

Based on their country of origin and initiate desire to move e.g. natural disaster, desertification, climate change, lack of jobs, war, political conflict etc.

Pull factors

Based on intended destination of migrant and attract people to host country e.g. better farming conditions, fewer extreme weather events, better healthcare and quality of life, higher wages etc.

Give an example of a push factor that led to mass migration crisis

Syrian war has forced 5mn Syrians and others to leave their country since 2011, fleeing to Jordan, Egypt, and across Europe. → Migrant crisis of 2015. By the end of summer 2015 estimates of total 600,000 migrants had entered Europe from N.Africa and Middle East. Squatter settlements as holding centres filled in Sicily.

Distance decay

Idea that migration declines as distance between origin and destination increases. Refugees move shorter distances compared to economic migrants.

Lee’s Migration Model

Lee’s migration model is a model that accounts for push/pull factors and intervening obstacles in order to predict migration patterns. It advocates the idea that intervening obstacles can block migration to certain areas, while push and pull factors can promote migration out of an old area to a new one.

What types of obstacles are encountered that prevent people moving?

Physical obstacles of water and terrain that migrants may have to cross.

Human factors of language barriers, visa requirements and lack of money to move.

What are the characteristics associated with migrants?

Most migrants are males, predominantly young adults better educated than the general rural population but less so than their urban counterparts, and economic motives predominate their decision to move. Periods of inward or outward migration can be spotted on population structures.

International Elites

Minority popular groups with combination of wealth, social status, political influences that migrate easily under Highly Skilled Migrant Programmes e.g. footballers.

The poor

not welcomed into ‘Fortress Europe’ in the same way of elites. They take great risks moving and can be exploited or trafficked at borders. Vessels used to cross seas are unsafe.

What role has globalisation played in migration? Is this the same for everyone?

Whilst globalisation has made it easier for flows of resources and capital, this is less true for people, especially the poorest. Global migrants are not on a level playing field. Governments control where they accept immigrants from and look at skill shortages and benefits of migration to the country.

Trade agreements allow for movement within the group e.g. EU.

Increased electronic flows of money and capital→ remittances.

Globalisation has created more diverse migration patterns.

What are the implications of migration for the origin country?

Demographic: lower BR, changing population structure, less economically active.

Social: reduced pressure of healthcare and education however loss of traditional culture and those most qualified→ skill shortages.

Health: less pressure on health services but leaves most vulnerable (elderly and children) with most qualified professionals leaving.

Political: pressure to develop declining areas.

Economic: reduced pressures of resources and less unemployment, increased remittances however leaves least educated.

Environmental: abandonment of buildings and farms.

What are the implications for the host country?

Demographic: increased BR and male working population.

Social: cultural diversity

Health: pressures to healthcare systems particularly from health tourists, increased infectious diseases.

Political: pressures to control immigration, rise of anti-migration parties.

Economic: overcomes labour and skill shortages, provides cheap labour however pressures on unemployment.

Environmental: pressures on land and resources, increased energy demand.