Lecture 1 - 31/10
Origin countries
Guest lecture Hein de Haas
[Migration as a resource and investment into better future rather than a last resort or ‘a
desperate flight from misery’]
● Immigration is seen as a problem that needs to be fixed
- However, De Haas argues this is not a scientific way to talk about migration
● It is discussed in a pro- or anti- way
● Migration has always existed; we need a radically different perspective on migration
● The other half of migration → a lot of misunderstandings are based on
non-knowledge on what causes migration in the first place
- Policies are based on misunderstandings; policies can often backfire
- Eg paradox of three Guyanas
● What has changed?
- Europe has long been the continent from which people have left (eg
colonialism); ‘’the biggest illegal migration in history; the ultimate invasion’’
- Later, it reversed; Europe decolonised and became a destination (global
migration reversal)
● Migration propaganda
- Linked to security
- Story of migrants stealing jobs
Migration myths
● We live in times of unprecedented mass migration (this is a common conception,
regardless of the perspective on migration)
- however, there is no significant increase of migration over time
- 80-85% of migrants stay close to the country of origin
- ‘illegal immigration’ → 2-5% total yearly legal immigration to E
- people moving from rural to urban places within the country; more internal
migrants than international migrants
● Immigration restrictions reduce migration
- Evidence shows that restrictions can lead to more (permanent) migration
- Why? You push people into permanent stays; if you put so much effort in
entering, you will not likely go back because it is much harder to re-enter
- If you let migration go free, it will stay in a natural flow of a general process
- The effect of a border restriction distorts the process or flow; impact people’s
decision making
● Development in poor countries will reduce migration
- However, we have to rethink the root causes of migration
- Paradigm is based on push and pull factors (however, there is no agency in
this way of thinking, furthermore resources are needed for migration)
- Evidence shows that migration rises when a country gets richer
- Why? → Migration is expensive and requires resources and is not so much a
desperate flight but a rather liberate (and permanent) decision
- Furthermore, a diploma and skills secure a job in the country of destination
- Infrastructure and urbanisation play a role as well
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