What is a migrant?
● UN international migration = “individuals who leave their country of usual residence
to live in another country for at least one year (in the netherlands: 4 months).
○ This excludes: temporary visitors such as tourists, business travellers or
temporary foreign workers.
● migrant = someone born abroad (foreign born)
● different definition Netherlands:
○ migration background = first and second generation western or non-western
immigrants - at least one parent foreign born.
Numbers, origins, destinations
In 2020, there are 281 million migrants (3,5% of world population). However, in more
developed regions the share of migrants is larger, around 11,6%.
● Net migration = settlement - departure
● Negative / positive balance = more/less people leave than settle
Take away points from the numbers:
● migration increased strongly due to globalisation from the 1950s.
○ but: so did the world population
● share of individuals who do not migrate remarkable stable, despite changes in transport
and communication technologies
● migration aspirations much larger (ca. 14%) than actual migration (3,5%). Migration
aspirations do not always result in migration behaviour, due to involuntary immobility.
● Migration patterns and aspiration differ per region and change over time.
Main Question: Is migration increasing?
(I) Migration flows in history (historical account)
International migration is not new, but (partly) the result of earlier migration in history. You
need to have states and borders (control) to have migration. International migration is from all
times, but more prevalent during historical periods.
A. Colonial times (17th-19th century): Mainly from Europe to the America’s and in and
from Asia.
B. Postwar migration: “guest workers” migration, postcolonial migration
C. Since 1990: increasing refugee migration + intra-European East-West migration
Migration in colonial times (1700-1900)
3 different patterns
1. Transatlantic migration: huge migration patterns from Europe to “the new world”
(northern/southern america, south africa, new zealand)
, a. 1492 - 1820: about 2,6 million
b. 1840 - 1914: 55-58 million people leave Europe to the Americas.
2. Substantial Asian migration: migration patterns within Asia from mainland China to
South-East Asia such as Indonesia.
3. Transatlantic slave trade: forced migration from africa to america (international slave
trade). Around 12 million people (1600 - 1860). Also streams from Africa to Middle
Eastern countries.
Postwar migration (1945- late 1970s)
1. Continuation of out-migration to the new world: immigration policies that stimulate
European citizens to move abroad (US, Canada, Australia).
2. Guest workers migration: flow of guest workers from Southern European countries to
northern countries, such as Netherlands, Belgium, Germany. Meant as temporary, but
many workers stayed and had their families come over.
3. Post-colonial migration: European powers had many colonies. After decolonization, a
lot of Europeans moved back to Europe.
International migration since 1980s
Economic changes in Europe:
● de-industrialization means that many aspects of the supply chain move to ‘cheaper’
countries in Asia, and Europe becomes focused on the service industry.
● also meant: former guest workers faced unemployment on a large scale
Migration changes:
● since 1990s increased refugee migration: longer distance and more diversity
○ we became more connected to the world, which made it easier to migrate
● Growing East-West migration in Europe after the 1990s (fall of the iron curtain, EU
enlargement 2004)
● After 1975, large labour migration from Asia to oil-rich Gulf states.
→ Thus: Contemporary migration has increased and is much more diversified than before as
more countries are involved.
(II) Current migration: numbers by region of origin (geographical account)
The main destination countries are Asian countries (internal asian migration) and Europe.
Refugees and asylum seekers: destinations
● internally displaced = people that are forced to flee their homes, but do not have the
means to flee the country. They remain displaced in their own country (46m).
● refugees = people that fled to another country, but are not in a procedure (30m)
● asylum seekers = people that fled and are in procedure in another country (4m)
The country hosting most refugees is Turkey (4 million). Turkey does not have the capacity to
host these refugees, refugees are therefore trying to get by in the informal economy.
→ most refugees stay in the region.
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