Welcome to the Department of Geography and International Development

and to

Chester World Development Forum

Global Migration: Who’s in charge?

Paul Tacon

20 October 2015

Plan

Introduction

Global Governance

How Global Governance Emerges

International Migration in Global Governance

History of Global Migration Governance

Migration Governance Future(s)

Introduction

International migration is one of the global megatrends of the 21st century Almost 232 million people living outside their country of

birth in 2013 (≈3% of the global population) (UN) A significant proportion (possibly the largest share) is

South-South (UN/World Bank) Migrants sent around US$436 billion to developing

countries in 2014 (World Bank)

Migration takes many forms Voluntary labour migration Refugee migration

Introduction

United States of America

Russian Federation

Germany

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

France

Canada

Australia

Spain

45 785 090

11 048 064

9 845 244

9 060 433

7 826 981

7 824 131

7 439 086

7 284 069

6 468 640

6 466 605

Top ten countries of destination, 2013

India

Mexico

Russian Federation

China

Bangladesh

Pakistan

Ukraine

Philippines

United Kingdom

Afghanistan

0 5 000 000 10 000 000 15 000 000

14 165 774

13 212 419

10 835 088

9 344 919

7 757 662

5 682 673

5 560 188

5 481 683

5 178 027

5 108 886

Top 10 countries of origin for migrants in

2013

Introduction

We are in an age of global governance

International migration is inherently a transboundary issue

It’s an integral part of human history and a structural feature of the modern world

The benefits of liberalization of migration are vast: “the emigration of less than 5 percent of the population of poor regions would bring global gains exceeding the gains from total elimination of all policy barriers to merchandise trade and all barriers to capital flows” (Clemens, 2011)

It also creates challenges that no state can manage alone

Ethical, human rights-based approach would suggest freer migration is best (Carens, 2011)…

Introduction

… And yet, international migration is “governed almost entirely at the level of the nation-state… and states guard that prerogative jealously.” (Opeskin, 2008)

States set rules allowing some people to move

Other people move in an irregular fashion, exposing them to risks

Why is this? Migration and Sovereignty Migration and the international system

And what are the counter-trends?

What future prospects are there for migration governance?

Global Governance

State sovereignty and anarchy…

But also cooperation

What is global governance? “norms, rules, principles and decision-making

procedures that regulate the behaviour of states” (Betts, 2011, p.4)

Most developed form: a regime, with “institutions and organizations expressing these values or norms” The global trade regime The human rights regime

How Global Governance Emerges

Interests: States act according to their interests in creating global governance Responding to provision of global public goods and

overcoming free-riding incentives through creating formalized means of cooperation and oversight, reducing costs, etc

But states need to recognize this is an interest

Power: powerful States provide leadership… Example: the US in the global trade regime

… and can block progress if they do not have an interest

Process, not an outcome Example: growth of the trade regime

International Migration in Global Governance

Reality of migration governance: States still the main actors in migration governance,

and their unilateral right to control their borders remains largely unchallenged.

Not stopping migration, but aiming to control it (with some people evading that control)

However, states involved in different processes at regional and global level at different levels of formality, with different aims and different relationships towards migration E.g. at regional level (EU), more progress is possible

How has this come to be?

International Migration in Global Governance

Migration is challenging for States, because it is about the movement of peopleLegal perspective: “[a] central attribute of

sovereignty is the power of a State to regulate its territory by controlling the movement of people across its borders” (Opeskin, 2008, p. 6)

Challenges an ordered world of clearly-defined nation-states defined by territory and the allegiance of the people in them.

Also, practical challenges of duties and costs

International Migration in Global Governance

State interests in migration – is there a global public good? Yes – it would be less costly for everyone and remove a major

distortion in the global economy (Hollifield) No – only a few would benefit from this removal of barriers

(Betts)

Interest: many states do not consider the global governance of international migration to be in their interests “Cultural threat” of migration “Economic threat” of migration Internal government incoherence Lack of political constituency

States of destination are able to get what they want from migration in the existing framework

International Migration in Global Governance

States of origin: what are their interests?High levels of emigration of low-skilled nationals and

rights-numbers trade-offNo interest in issue-linkages and securitizing

migration

Power: The power is with the States of destinationThe countries of destination have (labour markets)

what countries of origin want access to: States of destination "the implicit 'makers' of migration governance" while states of origin are “‘takers’ of migration governance." (Betts, 2011, p. 22)

History of Migration Governance

Largely reflects the will of states of destination; maintains their power to include/exclude migrants at will.

Discussions mostly informal and outside UN framework.

No single UN agency overseeing the process

However, some leadership from the UN, especially on migration and development

2003-present: Suddenly migration was everywhere:UN initiatives; High-level Dialogues; Global Forum on Migration and Development; Migration in the Sustainable

Development Goals

1993-2003: Discussions on intergovernmental conference on migration

1990: Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families

1949-1951: tentative steps

1890s-mid 20th century: uncontested state control

1648-1890s: state sovereignty but general right to travel

History of migration governance

Regional governance:E.g. EU, EEU, ECOWAS, CARICOM;

Enabling freedom of movement, residence and employment within a group of countries

UN-level coordinationGlobal Migration Group

History of Migration Governance

Betts: “Embedded migration governance”Developments in other policy areas have had an

important impact on states' latitude on regulating international migration.

Example: Human rights regime Refugee regime General provisions applicable to migrants Specific provisions for migrants

Example: Sustainable Development Goals Overall development agenda which picks out migrants

in specific areas Specific target (10.7) focusing on global migration

governance

Migration Governance Future(s)

Formal multilateral migration governance is weak; some cooperation in informal forms; some engagement by the UN.

Body of international norms which, although not specifically related to international migration, play a role in placing restrictions on how states can behave with international migrants.

States still in the driving seat; gaps in migration governance

Migration Governance Future(s)

However, international (migration) order is dynamic. Power relations and perceptions of state interests are not set in stone, while international organisations can acquire their own interests and momentum Example: High-level Dialogue 2013

Other actors are involved:Civil societyMigrants themselves

Example: refugees from Syria in Europe

Migration Governance Future(s)

Where are we? Where are we going?

Potential for change:Agreement of common interest on migration

Example: Migration and development

Shifts in global order Example: the rise of India Example: from country of destination to country of

origin Example: climate change and migration

Thank you!