What is migration?

• Migration refers to the movement of people from one geographical area to another

• Emigration is the term used to describe people leaving a geographical area

• Immigration refers to people coming into a geographical area

• Net migration is the measure of people coming into a country less the number leaving

Why do people migrate?

• Push factors:

  • Conflict Lack of employment

  • Lack of resources

  • Poverty

  • Political situations

• Pull factors:

  • Education

  • Employment

  • Standard of living

  • Family

  • Climate

Impact of globalisation on migration:

• Greater cooperation between nations has led to free movement agreements for work and leisure- e.g European Union

• The global conflict has led to an acceleration of migration- conflicts in Northern Africa and the Middle East have led to an increase in refugees and asylum seekers

• The global nature of employment has seen the spread of Western companies overseas- e.g. education, healthcare, manufacturing

Impacts of migration:

• Changes to the demography of the UK- ethnic and age diversity with many immigrants being below the average age

• Multiculturalism- Increased migration into the UK has led to greater diversity in the UK

• Impacts on social policies- assimilationist policies such as citizenship tests encourage migrants to become part of British life

• Hybridity- development of hybrid cultures, such as British Asian that combine elements of British and Asian cultures

Other impacts of migration:

• Migration as a political issue- with increasing net migration over the past 15 years, migration has become a political issue in the UK

• Informed debates on Brexit and the ‘War on Terror’, with migration controls being cited as security concerns

• The rise in nationalism as a reaction to multiculturalism has increased the reporting of incidents of racially motivated hate crimes in recent years