Global Migration

Global
Migration
Angela P. Comeso
BSED1- Science
The nuances of the movement of people
around the world can be seen through the
categories of migrants “vagabonds” and
tourists” (Bauman, 1998). Vagabonds are on
the move “because they have to be” (Ritzer,
2015,p.179) they are not faring well in their
home countries and are forced to move in the
hope that their circumstances will improve.
Tourist, on the other hand, are on the move
because they want to be and because they can
afford it.
Refugees are vagabonds forced to flee their
home countries due to safety concerns
(Haddad,2003). Asylum seekers are refugees
who seek to remain in the country to which
they flee. According to Kritz (2008), those who
migrate to find work are involved in labor
migration. Labor migration is driven by “push”
factors (e.g., lack of employment opportunities
in home countries), as well as “pull” factors
(work available elsewhere). Labor migration
mainly involves the flow of less-skilled and
unskilled workers, as well as illegal immigrants
who live on the margins of the host society
(Lander, 2007).
Unlike other global flows, labor migration
still faces many restrictions. Many of these
barriers are related to the Westphalian
conception of the nation-state and are
intimately associated with it. Shamir (2005)
discussed that the state may seek to control
migration because it involves the loss of part of
the workforce. An influx migrants can lead to
conflicts with local residents. Concerns about
terrorism also affect the desire of the state to
restrict population flows (Moses,2006).
Migration is traditionally governed either by
“push” factors such as political persecution,
economic depression, war, and famine in the
home country or by “pull” factors such as
favorable immigration policy, a labor shortage,
and a similarity of language and culture in the
country of destination (Ritzer,2015).
Global factors, which facilitate easy access to
information about the country of destination,
also exert as significant influence.
Many countries face issues of illegal
migration. The United States faces a major
influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico and
other Central American states (Thompson,
2008). A fence is being constructed on the US-
Mexico border to control this flow of people
(Fletcher and Weisman, 2006). However, its
efficacy is questioned and it is thought that will
only lead illegal immigrants to adopt more
dangerous methods to gain entry. In addition,
tighter borders have also had the effect of
“locking in” people who might otherwise have
left the country (Fears,2006). Other countries
with similar concerns about illegal immigration
include Great Britain, Switzerland
and Greece as well as countries in Asia.
A strong case can be made on the backlash
against illegal immigrants (Economist,2008,
January 3, “Keep the Borders Open”). In the
North, such immigrants constitute a younger
workforce that does work which locals may not
perform, and they are consumers who
contribute to growth. They also send
remittances back to family members in
country of origin, which improves the lives of
recipients, reduces poverty rates, and increases
the level of education as well as the foreign
reserves of the home country (Economist 2007,
November 1). Banks are often unwilling or
unable to handle the type (small amounts of
money) and volume of remittances. As a result,
specialized organizations play a major role in
the transmission of remittances. According to
Malkin (2007), the Philippines is one of the
leaders when it comes to the flow of
remittances ($14.7 billion), next to India
($24.5 billion) and China ($21. 1 billion).
The term “diaspora” has been increasingly
used to describe migrant communities. Of
particular interest is Paul Gilroy’s (1993)
conceptualization of the diaspora as a
transnational process, which involves dialogue
to both imagined and real locales.
Diasporization and globalization are closely are
closely interconnected and the expansion of the
latter will lead to an increase in the former
(Dufiox, 2007). Today, there exists “virtual
diasporas” (Laguerre, 2002) which utilize
technology such as the internet to maintain the
community network.

Global Migration

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Global Migration

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Global Migration

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Global

You might also like