Theories of Migration

This paper proposes a theory explaining  ‘forced migration’. It deals with the causes  of forced migration, and acknowledges ‘forced migrants’, as a vulnerable population. It identifies the  shortcomings of other migration theories, and pieces together  positive elements of previous theories to synthesise a comprehensive theory which may enlighten public policy in its endeavour to promote  socio-economic integration . It explains ‘forced migration’ as a specific system of migration and it is a unifying theory, as well as,  a middle-ground theory.  It is a unifying theory because it is a trans-disciplinary inquiry into the system of migration, and, it is a middle-ground theory because it addresses key conceptual issues rarely discussed by academics and practioners.

Since the existing research on migration from Turkey to Western Europe does not employ multiple theoretical perspectives, this article, based on two field studies, focuses on the changing phases and forms of this human mobility by utilising a number of relevant international migration theories. The article examines the uncovered socioeconomic , demographic, and political aspects of migration from Turkey to Germany and the United Kingdom and unpacks how the parameters and motives for these two routes have changed from a comparative historical perspective. In this way, it deepens the discussion on the factors and circumstances leading to migration and demonstrates that while individual, household, and historicalstructural distinctions and conflicts initiate human mobility, it is perpetuated by ongoing differences, a culture of migration, networks, and ethnic economies.

The concepts of migration and mobility clearly intersect, but they are not synonyms. While migration by definition entails mobility, migration studies has privileged studying other aspects of the migratory process. This article analyzes migratory (im)mobilities and methodologies to study them and it critically reflects on the usefulness of mobility studies as an analytical lens to study human migration. Lack of empirical data suggests that we need more systematic comparative studies of how migratory mobilities are generated in everyday life and facilitated as well as constrained by specific mobility circuits and institutions.

This study deals with a highly topical research issue – migrations and integration
processes which are intrinsically connected with them. At the same time it strives to present a basic overview of the most important migration theories. Although a majority of them have originated outwith the discipline of history, they do represent a pathway to the clarification of the circumstances of the origins and the realization of shifts in spatial mobility of different social classes in a historical context. The presented work primarily focuses on the most recent foreign literature and introduces individual themes which are seen as exceptionally significant from the point of migrations in European history. It also introduces individual theoretical concepts; it analyses their division into macro and micro theories; it presents examples of hypotheses, their authors and even their theoretical works. This work, in its own way, is a specialised bibliography which presents a basic overview of the themes under research at the interdisciplinary level.

1st Kurdish Migration Conference 2016:
From Subordination to Transnational Mobilization

May 27, 2016, Middlesex University, London, UK

Call for abstracts – Deadline: February 1st


Conference Aims and Objectives
The lack of a home nation state has led to a relative invisibility of Kurdish migrants both in public and academic spheres in the settlement countries where they have been registered according to their nationality but not ethnic affiliation. As a result of this, Kurdish migrants have constantly been encompassed in national categories of their country of origin. This was also reflected in a limited public and scholarly attention on them. However, local civic and cultural activism, together with transnationalized Kurdish political mobilisation has drawn attention to the Kurds in the Diaspora. Consequently, recent years have witnessed a growing number of theoretical, conceptual and empirical works on themes related to Kurdish migration. The Kurdish Migration Conference 2016 aims to bring together researchers from multiple disciplines working on Kurdish migration to exchange and share their research findings and experiences about all aspects of migration in, from and to Kurdistan.

Keynote speakers:
• Prof Floya Anthias (University of East London, UK) – TBC
• Prof Jane Holgate (Leeds University, UK)
• Dr Minoo Alinia (Södertörn University, Sweden)

Call for abstracts
Researchers are kindly encouraged to contribute to and help shape the conference through submissions of their research abstracts. The conference themes cover issues relating to migration in, from and to Kurdistan.

Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:
• Migration, ethnicity, citizenship, belonging and identity politics
• Migration, labour market, entrepreneurship and economic integration
• Migration, gendered experiences, and sexuality
• Family dynamics and intergenerational relationships
• Migrants, media and translocal cultural politics and representations
• Political participation, (digital) networks and organizations
• Transnational ties and/or remittances
• Migration, law, legal status, rights, and undocumented migration
• Internal and international migration, borders and borderlands
• Discrimination and xenophobia and diasporic narratives of Kurdish resistance
• Refugee and internal displacement issues
• Migration theories and frameworks
• Research methodology and Kurdish migration


How to submit
Please submit your abstract (no more than 300 words) online at:
www.mdxmigration.wordpress.com/kurdishconference2016/


There is no fee for attending the conference but all delegates will be expected to make and pay for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

For more information, please contact the conference organisers:
Dr Janroj Yilmaz Keles: [email protected]
‎Dr Alessio D'Angelo: [email protected]

Important Dates
The deadline for abstract submissions: February 1st, 2016
Notification of acceptance: February 19, 2016
Conference date: May 27, 2016


This conference is organised by the Business School and the Social Policy Research Centre at Middlesex University with support from The British Institute for the Study of Iraq

İnsan niye göç eder? İlk göç teorisinin ortaya çıktığı 19. yüzyıldan günümüze kadar birçok teorisyen bu soruya cevap aramıştır. göçmenin göç etme sebebini anlamak ve göçü sınıflandırabilmek adına birçok göç ve göçmen davranışı incelenmiş ve göçmen davranışları ile göçün sebepleri sistematize edilmeye çalışılmıştır.

Several research and studies have been carried out about the Syrians resettled in
Turkey due to the war in Syria since 2011. These studies mostly focus on the Syrians’ position in economy, legal status, humanitarian living conditions as well as
the extent of security. Such studies are surely fundamental since they show us the
determination and reflections of the social problems that have been experienced.
However, the reviews have an understanding of focusing on the results of social
problem, marginalising Syrians as well as not empathising with them rather
than attempting to understand their lives and interpersonal relations. In this
study, however, Syrians’ domestic relations, networks and vital practices have been
investigated by considering together their economical, political, legal and cultural
differences or similarities.
In this regard; interviews with 6 associations established by Syrian migrants in
Mersin province, 6 employers and 10 employees have been made. It has been
shown that such associations build mechanisms enabling to solve the problems
of housing, employment, language, health care and education of the Syrian migrants. The reflections of social capital in civil society and economic life which
forms current networks on setting up a business, finding a job as well as survival
strategies of labour power have been mentioned with Syrian employers.

Immigrant America: A Portrait. 4th ed., 2014. Chapter 2 - Theoretical Overview.
There is no comprehensive theory of international migration. Those that exist tend to focus on manual labor migrants and then extend, haphazardly, to the origins and patterns of settlement of professional migrants, entrepreneurs, and refugees. Existing theories can be organized into four categories: a) determinants of the origins of migration; b) determinants of its continuation and directionality; c) uses of migrant labor; and d) patterns of migrant settlement and adaptation. We review and evaluate these theories and note their applicability to the different types of migrant described in the prior chapter.