Migration and community formation under conditions of globalisation: Difference between revisions

This article discusses the conceptual issues of migration research before focusing on two major issues:

• Likely trends in migration in future

[[Migration and community formation under conditions of globalisation - full introduction]]

Migrations have always been key factors in colonialism, industrialization and nation-building. During the 1990s, there was a shift in perception concerning migration but this not does represent a major change in phenomenon. Migration as a systemic element in the process of globalization is a new form of a systemic role which has taken different forms since the formation of global networks of capitalist markets in the 16th century.     

[[International Migration as a Systemic Factor in Globalization - full text]]

According to a UN study, between 2 and 4 percent of the world’s population are migrants, but the distribution of these immigrants is of course not evenly spread. In absolute terms, most migrants are living in less-developed countries, but in relative terms developed countries are more affected by migration as migrants form a higher percent of the population in developed countries than in developing countries. Migrants tend to migrate from rural communities, which often has a sever impact on those communities (family life and labour shortage) to urban communities, where there are likely to be more chances of employment and assistance from other migrants.

[[The volume and Significance of migration full text]]

There are several approaches to understanding the causes of migration:

[[Causes of Migration full text]]

In the last 50 years, there have been three major types of migration: permanent settlement migration, temporary labour migration and refugee movement.  

Highly skilled workers are encouraged to migrate through government programmes, but also most global cities rely on low-skilled labour, provided by asylum seekers and irregular migrants.  

[[Types of Migration full text]]

To what extent will migrant settlement and community formation change under conditions of globalization? What will be the effects on social relations, culture, identity and politics in receiving countries? How will states seek to incorporate minorities and manage diversity? To answer these questions, we need to look at the different ways migrants have been incorporated into receiving societies over the last 50 years.

[[Perspectives for Multicultural Societies and Transnational Communities full text]]

There are three main approaches to migrant incorporation:

[[Modes of Incorporation full text]]

Globalization reduces the power of the nation-state. Increasing mobility, especially through communication and cheap travel allows people to challenge the idea that a person belongs to one nation-state. Transnational communities, or diaspora, have existed for centuries, for instance the Jews, African slaves in the New World, Greek and Arab trading groups etc. but the number of such communities is increasing. This is facilitated by time space compression, partly technological in character, partly social/cultural. If the loyalty of transational community members is not to a particular nation-state, then what does loyalty relate to? These communities are sometimes portrayed as cosmopolitan hybrids, and sometimes as having a feeling of identification with other people of the same ethnic group, wherever they are.

[[Migrant Incorporation Under Conditions of Globalisation full text]]

It is suggested that immigrants find their sense of identity primarily at the level of the city, that there is a sense of sub-national belonging.  

[[Transnational Comunities and Global Cities full text]]

Governments of emigration countries often try to retain a strong link between the immigrants and the homeland, as this can bring economic, cultural and political benefits. This can be advantageous for migrants – in societies where they experience racism and marginalization, mobilizing community solidarity and transnational links can be a source of strength. Multicultural, cosmopolitan communities also negotiate cross-border links and bring cultural and economic openness and opportunities.  

[[Significance of transnational communities for national identity full text]]

If flows are replacing spaces as the site of economic and social organization, citizenship can no longer be attached to a single nation-state. About half the world’s countries now recognize dual citizenship: emigration countries benefit from the remittances, technology transfer and political support ensured by emigrants. Immigration countries benefit form this arrangement in terms of improving social relations and integration of minorities, preventing social disadvantage being connected to ethnicity.

[[Transnational communities and citizenship full text]]

The expression “baby-farming” was coined by satirical Irish clergyman Jonathan Swift as a solution to the problems faced by the Irish while suffering under English colonization: as a way to earn a living, it was ironically proposed that the only way for the Irish to make a living was to farm babies to sell to the English for consumption. As developed countries over the past decades have increasingly relied on imported labour, human exports have been sent to the factories of industrial countries (rather than the dinner table).

[[Instead of a conclusion: back to baby-farming? full text]]