Migration – wrap up

E.G. Ravenstein

• His theory of migration is the basis for contemporary geography migration studies

• In the 1880s proposed several migration principles – many still true

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To summarize the principles, most migrants:

• Move only a short distance• Usually settle in urban areas if moving long distance• Move in steps• Move from rural to urban• Start a migration flow that produces a movement in

opposite direction• Are adult (families w/ children are less likely to move)• If international, are young males whereas more internal

migrants are female, but this has changed recently, now 40% to 60% of international migrants are female

• Migrants were not representative of a cross section of their sending population

• Most are young adults in all regions of the world

• Female= move for better economic opportunities

• All send remittances (money) home to their families

Example

• Since early 1990s Indians working abroad in oil-exporting countries of the Persian Gulf send remittances home to India that contribute more to the Indian balance of payments then all other forms of capital inflow added together. Migrants also are typically well educated, and this often creates a “brain drain” backing home in their sending country.

Wilber Zelinsky identified a Migration Transition

• Consists of changes in a society comparable to those in a demographic transition

Stage Demographic Transition Migration Transition

1 Low NIR, High CBR, high CDR High daily or seasonal mobility in search for food

2 High NIR, high CBR, rapidly declining CDR

High international emigration and interregional migration from rural to urban areas*country has a lot of international migration

3 Declining NIR, rapidly declining CBR, declining CDR

High international migration and intraregional migration from cities to suburbs

4 Low NIR, low CBR, Low CDR Same as stage 3

• It is a change in the migration pattern in a society that results from the social and economic changes that also produce the demographic transition

International Migration: permanent move from one country to another

2 types1. Voluntary Migration: implies that the migrant

has chosen to move especially for economic improvement

2. Forced migration: means that the migrant has been compelled to move esp. by political or environmental factors

• Distinction between voluntary and forced not clear cut– Those migrating for economic reasons may feel

forced, but they have not been forces by violent actions of other people

Internal Migration: a permanent move with the country

• Much more numerous then international migrants because distance is closer

2 types1. Interregional migration: movement from one region of a

country to another- historically: rural and urban- today in some regions from urban to environmentally attractive rural areas

- First for better farmland- Lack of farmland pushed ppl to where land abundant- Then rural to urban for services- Ex. Large scale internal migration is opening of American west

2. Intraregional migration: movement within one region- mostly takes place in urban areas – older cities to newer suburbs- internal migration: less traumatic then international because they find familiar language, food, broadcasts, literature, music, and other social customs

- tends to be shorter distance except in big countries such as U.S.A. and Russia

International Migration Patterns

• 9% of the world’s population are international migrants

• Largest flows– From Asia to Europe– From Asia to North America– From Latin America to North America

• Shows importance of migration from developing countries to developed countries

• Asia• Latin America• Africa

• North America• Europe• Oceania

Have net out migration

Have Net In Migration

• U.S. has more foreign born residents then any other country – approx. 43 million (2010)

• But…• Canada and Australia have higher rates of net in

migration which are less populous then USA• Highest rates of net-in = petroleum producing

exporting countries of Southwest Asia – attracts immigrants from poorer countries in Asia perform many of the dirty, dangerous functions in the oil fields

U.S. migration Patterns

• World’s 3rd most populous country is inhabited by direct decedents of immigrants

• 75 million have migrated to the U.S. between 1820-2010

• 3 main waves of immigration• Colonial settlements 17th & 18th centuries• Mass European immigration in the late 19th cent. And

early 20th cent. • Asian and Latin American immigration in late 20th and

early 21st cent.

Where do people migrate with a country?

• Internal migration less disruptive then international migration

• Changing center of population: is the average location of everyone in the country, the center of population gravity

• Look at U.S. changing center of population (look at your notes)

• Examples: Russia, and migration to other countries

Intraregional migration

• Most people move with in same region– Worldwide = rural to urban– In the U.S. principle intraregional migration is from

cities to suburbs

• Migration from rural to urban areas– Rural (nonmetropolitan) areas to urban

(metropolitan) began in the 1800s in Europe and the U.S. as part of the Industrial Revolution

Migration from rural to urban areas

• Rural (nonmetropolitan) areas to urban (metropolitan) began in the 1800s in Europe and the U.S. as part of the Industrial Revolution

• Urbanization has diffused to developing countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa• Ppl seeking economic advancements• Pushed from rural areas by declining opportunities in

agriculture• Pulled to cities by prospect of work in fact

– Ex. Lima, Peru = poor rural immigrants constructing ramshackle housing in the hills of Lima

Migration from Urban to Suburban Areas

• Happens in developed nations• City population , suburbs this is US,

Canada, Europe• Why move to the suburbs?– Not jobs– Suburbs offers opportunity to live in detached

houses with yards, garages, driveways, better and safer schools, access to cars and trains

– Farms on the outskirts of the cities turn into suburbs

Migration from Urban to Rural Areas

• Late 20th century in developed countries – 1st time more ppl moved to rural areas then emigrated out of them

• Counterubanization: net migration from urban to rural areas

• Boundaries where suburbs end and rural begins – not precisely defined

• Move from urban to rural for lifestyle regions– Leave frantic pace of the cities, work in small town, on

farms, etc

• Counterubanization: happening primarily in Rocky Mountain states – Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming – Rural counties = net-in migration

** Intraregional migration: has showed during the early 21st cent. As a result of the severe recession

Refugees

• Forced political migration occurs b/c of political conflict• The Unites Nations High Commission for Refugees

(UNHCR) recognizes 3 groups of forced political migrants:

1. Refugee: forced to migrate to another country to avoid the effects of armed conflicts, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights, or other disasters and cannot return for fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, memberships in a social group, or political opinions

2. Internally displaced persons (IDP): has been forced to migrate for similar political reasons as a refugee but has not migrated across an international boarders

3. Asylum seeker: someone who has migrated to another country in hope of being recognized as a refugee

UN= 10.6 million refugees; 14.7 million (IDR); 838,000 (Asylum seekers)

Largest number in 2010: Afghanistan and Iraq received by Pakistan, Iran, Syria

The United Nations official definition of a refugee is a person that crosses an international border but unofficially, most refugees are internally displaced

persons, or IDPs, and stay within their home country.

More Frontline videos to watch on refugee situations:http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/sudan/

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2008/10/rwanda_after_th.html

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/08/22/18299463.php

Podcast about Rebels in Darfur

Migrating to find Work

• Most ppl migrate for economic reasons• Hard to distinguish between migrant seeking

economic opportunities and refugees • It’s an important to distinguish b/c US, Canada, and

European Countries b/c there are different groups• Economic migrants not admitted unless they

possess a special skills or have a close relative already there (but they must compete with other applicants)

• Refugees receive special priority in admission to other countries

• Migrants may be allowed to migrate temporarily (Europe and Asia have these programs)

• Guest worker

On your own:

• Read and take notes on Europe’s Migrant workers and Asia’s migrant workers

• 15 minutes

Why do Migrants face obstacles?

• Intervening obstacles: an environmental or political feature that hinders migration– Historically : the expense of a long trip– b/c of modern transpiration – environmental

factors no longer much of an obstacle– Today: migrants face political obstacles – need a

passport to legally emigrate from a country and a visa to legally immigrate to a country

Controlling Migration

• Most countries have adopted selective immigration policies that admit some types but not others

2 reasons Visas are granted:1. Specific employment placement2. Family reunification

U.S. Quota Laws

• Homework….

Brain Drain

• Large scale immigration by talented people caused by giving immigration preference to skilled workers

• Examples: scientists, researchers, doctors, and other professionals migrate to countries where they make better use of their abilities

• Asians take adv. of priorities set by US quota laws

Human Capital Theory of Migration

• States that educated workers often migrate from poor countries to wealthy countries seeking better paying jobs

Forms of MigrationForms of Migration Definition/ Description Example

Step Migration Series of small movies to reach destination

Rural to big city by moving to a village, small town, larger town, and then big city

Chain Migration Part of a migrant flow that follows former migrants to an area

Turkey to ethnic enclave in Berlin, Germany

Counter or Return Migration

Generally, about 25% will return to home area eventually

Ohio to West Virginia

Channel migration Repetitive pattern of migration not linked to family or ethnicity

Retired persons to Arizona and Florida

Worldwide migration to the U.S.

Most documented immigrants to the U.S.: MexicoMost undocumented immigrants to the U.S.: Mexico

1980s-present most immigrants come from Latin America

Illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States.

Short video resources about Mexican immigration to the U.S.

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/mexico/http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/watch/player.html?pkg=704_crimes&seg=1&mod=0

Example of Chinese international migration in Southeast Asia

Post-1945 External Migrations

• Flow of Jewish immigrants to Israel– Palestine, 1900 vs. 1948– Formation of Israel– Now a flashpoints

http://www.migrationinformation.org/