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Summary Introduction to Migration Studies Lectures
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Introduction to Migration StudiesLecture 1
Seminar & lectures not mandatory
- Be prepared: read the literature and formulate critical questions (weekly assignmnent)
for each reading – hand in on Canvas before start of the seminar – print and bring to
on site seminar
- Participate: be involved in discussions, ask questions
Participation = 15%
Weekly assignment 15% each block
Mid term 25% = take home exam
Final oral exam 30%
Obstacles
- Disciplinary and methodological fragmentation
- Eurocentric ‘receiving country bias’ or dominance of (‘Northern’) state perspectives
o Most of the scholars are from the receiving end of migrants.
- Simplistic framing of debate (‘pro vs. anti’-migration)
o Often people discuss it as a pro vs anti, which is weird because migration is part of
human life, humanity, migration has been here as long as people have been living on
this earth. It is part of economy, globalisation, social change.
- Frequent failure of migration policies shows a limited understanding of nature and drivers of
migration
- This exposes the need for a specific understanding of migration
Migration and social transformations
The need to reconceptualize migration: migration causes social change and social change affects
migration. think about industrialization, globalization with free flow of goods etc. Therefore migration
is an intrinsic part of broader processes of development and global change instead of a problem to be
solved.
MIGRATION -> SOCIAL CHANGE*
SOCIAL CHANGE* -> MIGRATION
(*development, social transformation, globalisation)
Migration as an intrinsic part of broader processes of development and global change instead of a
“problem to be solved”.
Central theoratical assumption: migration is both moulded by and helps to mould broader processes
of change (development, social transformation, globalisation, etc.)
Misperception about the pull/push theories:
Push factors Pull factors
- Few services - Access to services
- Lack of job opportunities - Better job opportunities
- Unhappy life - More entertainment facilities
- Poor transport links - Better transport links
- Natural disasters - Improved living conditions
- Wars - Hope for a better way of life
- Shortage of food - Family links
,Push and Pull Theory
Theory about the nature of migration that says the reason of people moving is by certain economic,
political, climate factors and are looking for better access to services, better job opportunities, family
inks, etc. Problem with the push/pull factors:
- If people would have so little resources, how would they be able to migrate at all?
- Big difference between ‘voluntary’ and ‘forced’ migration
- Not all people migrate with the vision to stay
- Not all people have a choice. There’s still little place for agency.
Migration Myths
1. We live in an era of unprecedented migration
a. Relative numbers have been stable for decades. The international migrant population
globally has increased in size but remained relatively stable as a proportion of the
world’s population.
b. Eurocentric view (northern bias): the direction of migration has changed
c. Politicians: make the problem much bigger, while the relative numbers show
something very different. Use the problem for their own gain and try to scare citizens.
d. Not just EU or Western countries, also Morocco for example (from all over Africa,
also a transition country).
2. Closed borders lead to less migration
a. Unintended consequences:
- ‘Now or never migration’:
- Circular migration becomes permanent. People wont come and go back and
forth anymore for work or family
- ‘waterbed effect’: if you close borders, people try other alternatives
- Irregular and dangerous journeys
- How the Dutch government stimulated unwanted migration from Suriname
3. Migration policies have failed – they actually work very well
a. Majority of migrants enter legally
b. Policies focus on selection and timing – not volume
i. Successful policies regarding recruiting international students for example
c. Overestimated what policies can achieve
i. We cannot fully control migration. Labour is a very big part of this.
4. Migration policies have become more restrictive
Examples:
- Schengen Agreement
- International work and study visas
Wanted vs. Unwanted migrants
Turkey deal failed: Turkey asked for way too much money and when Turkey wasn’t happy
anymore, they reopened the borders. More complex than it looks like
5. Development aid prevents migration
a. Development will reduce migration.. push/pull factors idea: when a country becomes
more wealthy, people won’t feel the need to migrate. This is a myth.
b. When countries develop (high income country), it will actually increase the numbers
of emigrants.
6. Migration leads to a brain drain
a. Numbers are too low to talk about a brain drain
i. What about EU law that makes it easier for TCNs that are highly educated to
become EU citizens? This is definitely a real thing.
ii. However, does not add to the brain drain because it does not affect the
country of origin from TCNs at all.
b. Demographics – developing countries have no jobs for graduates
c. Remittances - transfer of money from foreign worker to home country
7. Migrants steal jobs and undermine welfare state
, a. Migrants take up jobs native population is unwilling to do
b. Labour not welfare attracts migrants
c. The better the economy, the higher the immigrants
8. Migration solves the problem of aging societies
a. Impossible
b. The whole world is aging
c. The role of technology
i. Japan is very big in investing technologies and automating jobs to deal with
the lack of the working population
9. Climate change will lead to mass migration
a. Internal displacement
b. Humans adjust
c. Gradual process
Trends and patterns – see graphs in pp
The international migrant population globally has increased in size but remained relatively stable as a
proportion of the world’s population.
52% of migrants is male – 48% is female
Categories
Language matters: categories and terms shape the way we perceive the world around us.
Migration flow, stream of refugees, waves of immigrants..
Migration and human mobility
Migration:
The change of residence across administrative borders
Mobility increased while migration numbers are stable
Immigration vs. emigration
Categories
Internal vs. International migration
Temporary vs. Permanent migration
Forced and voluntary migration
(il)legal, (un)authorized, (ir)regular, (un)documented
Origin vs. Destination
Sending vs. Receiving country
Host society vs. Home country
Smuggling and trafficking
Integration
Climate refugees
Readings
Lecture 2 – theories on the causes of migration
Overview:
- Functionalist theories (‘migration as optimisation’)
- Historical structural theories (‘migration as exploitation’)
- Transition theories (‘migration as development’)
- Aspirations-capabilities model
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