Globalisation & Migration

Definitions

  • Migration: Movement of people from one area to another.

  • Internal Migration: Movement within specified borders, often within a country (e.g., EU).

  • External Migration: Movement across political borders.

  • Immigration: Entering a country.

  • Emigration: Leaving a country.

  • Net Migration: Difference between immigrants and emigrants during a specified time period.

Key Terms

  • Globalisation and Migration: Interaction of globalisation processes with migration trends, where increased global connectivity influences patterns of movement.

Types of Migration

  • Economic: Driven by job opportunities.

  • Political: Linked to conflict or persecution.

  • Cultural: Movement for cultural exchange or lifestyle. Sub-types: permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary.

Examples of Relocation

  • Workers moving permanently for economic reasons.

    • Permanent: Workers relocating to a new country for better job opportunities.

    • Temporary: Short-term migration such as seasonal work.

    • Semi-Permanent: Regular migrations between origin and destination, reflecting economic necessities.

Refugee Migration

  • Refugees: Individuals forced from their home countries due to conflict, persecution, or disasters.

  • Types of Migration:

    • Permanent: Long-term displacement (e.g. refugees)

    • Temporary: Short-term displacement due to natural disasters.

    • Semi-Permanent: Internally displaced persons returning once safe.

Retirement Migration

  • Retirement Migration: Elderly individuals relocating to countries with favorable climates (e.g., British retirees in Spain or France).

  • Tourism: Temporary migrations which can be internal or external, often seasonal.

  • Students: Moving abroad for education, often for extended periods (semi-permanent).

Role of Industrialisation

  • Industrialisation leads to fragmented development, attracting migration from rural to urban areas.

  • Unemployment and low-wage jobs arise as urban populations increase, creating the urban poor.

  • Movement is driven by push and pull factors.

Push Factors

  • Reasons prompting migration include:

    • Lack of employment

    • War

    • Natural disasters

    • Population pressure

    • Lack of resources.

  • The World Bank (2005) emphasizes rural to urban movement for job opportunities and uplifting futures.

Pull Factors

  • Attractive elements that draw people include:

    • Availability of work

    • Improved living standards

    • Education opportunities

    • Freedom from persecution (ethnic, gender, or sexual).

Urbanisation Trends

  • Urbanization is a major migration driver, with projections showing 70% of the global population will reside in urban areas by 2050, up from just 2% in 1800.

  • Countries such as the UK and Argentina show about 80% of their populations living in urban areas, with significant concentrations in megacities.

Megacities

  • Defined as cities with over 5 million inhabitants, projections indicated 48 megacities in developing countries by 2005, many exceeding populations of 10 million.

Fragmented Industrialisation

  • Concentration of development leads to urban migration and challenges, such as unemployment and poverty, with few opportunities available.

  • Historical differences between the Industrial Revolution in the UK and contemporary migrant experiences in developing nations demonstrate these disparities.

Contemporary Migration Trends

  • Current trends are primarily driven by economic factors, with refugees comprising a small percentage (7%) of total global migration.

  • South to South Migration: Prevalent, while North to South migration is less common.

Political Refugees

  • UN treaties exist for protection, yet interpretation varies by country, impacting refugee admissions.

  • Current issues include border policing, which has affected refugee admissions (e.g., Brexit and cases like the "Windrush Generation").

Legal and Illegal Migration

  • Much migration occurs legally, but undocumented migration exists, involving various illegal activities like document forgery.

Mass Tourism

  • Represents a growing form of temporary cultural migration, influencing local identities and economies.

  • Places such as Ibiza have transformed over decades due to the impacts of mass tourism.

Tourism Impact Analysis

  • Tourism alters identities of destinations, shifting them from pristine to commercialized through mass tourism.

  • There is a trend towards recreating locations to appeal to tourists, which can lead to a loss of authenticity.

Authenticity in Tourism

  • Western tourism often searches for authentic experiences, resulting in rapid changes to destinations until they lose their original character.

Positive Consequences of Global Migration

  • Benefits include:

    • Job creation

    • Educational opportunities

    • Remittances

    • Cultural diversity

    • Wider perspectives.

Negative Consequences of Global Migration

  • Challenges include:

    • Exploitation of undocumented workers

    • Wage depression

    • Hostility towards migrants

    • Increased criminality

    • Brain drain in less developed countries.