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Sociology 144 Semester Notes
Section 1: Migration and South African society
Theme 1: Introduction to Migration
Defining the terms of migration
Migration - The movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an international
border, or within a country; it is a population movement encompassing any kind of
movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes; it includes migration of
refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants, and persons moving for other purposes,
including family reunification.
Migration studies in South Africa
The study of migration in South Africa is “one of the most researched and well-documented
academic fields in the region”
The study of migration in South Africa “contributed to a new approach to migration… By the
mid-1980s, sociologists were drawing on insights derived from South Africa to examine
migration in cases as far flung as the West Indies, Europe and Mexico, looking at how states
controlled the flow and circulation of migrants - and at how migration flows are deeply
intertwined with the racialization of labour streams.”
An international view of migration
The total number of international migrants has increased an estimated 150 million in 2000
to 214 million persons in 2010.
3,1% of the world’s population are migrants; they would constitute the fifth most populous
country in the world.
However, in China alone the number of internal migrants is 200 million people.
Why the focus on international migrants?
High percentages of migrants -Qatar (87 per cent), United Arab Emirates (70 per cent),
Jordan (46 per cent), Singapore (41 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (28 percent).
Low percentage of migrants - South Africa (3.7 per cent), Slovakia (2.4 per cent), Turkey (1.9
per cent), Japan (1.7 percent), Nigeria (0.7 per cent), Romania (0.6 percent), India (0.4
percent) and Indonesia (0.1 percent).
Migration is now more widely distributed across more countries. The top 10 countries of
destination receive a smaller share of all migrants than in 2000.
Migration seen as the flow of money
Estimated remittances sent by migrants in 2010
- Remittances have increased exponentially: up from USD 132 billion in 2000 to an
estimated USD 440 billion in 2010, even with a slight decline due to the economic crisis. The
actual amount, including unrecorded flows through formal and informal channels, is
believed to be significantly larger
Sociology 144 Semester Notes
Section 1: Migration and South African society
Theme 1: Introduction to Migration
Defining the terms of migration
Migration - The movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an international
border, or within a country; it is a population movement encompassing any kind of
movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes; it includes migration of
refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants, and persons moving for other purposes,
including family reunification.
Migration studies in South Africa
The study of migration in South Africa is “one of the most researched and well-documented
academic fields in the region”
The study of migration in South Africa “contributed to a new approach to migration… By the
mid-1980s, sociologists were drawing on insights derived from South Africa to examine
migration in cases as far flung as the West Indies, Europe and Mexico, looking at how states
controlled the flow and circulation of migrants - and at how migration flows are deeply
intertwined with the racialization of labour streams.”
An international view of migration
The total number of international migrants has increased an estimated 150 million in 2000
to 214 million persons in 2010.
3,1% of the world’s population are migrants; they would constitute the fifth most populous
country in the world.
However, in China alone the number of internal migrants is 200 million people.
Why the focus on international migrants?
High percentages of migrants -Qatar (87 per cent), United Arab Emirates (70 per cent),
Jordan (46 per cent), Singapore (41 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (28 percent).
Low percentage of migrants - South Africa (3.7 per cent), Slovakia (2.4 per cent), Turkey (1.9
per cent), Japan (1.7 percent), Nigeria (0.7 per cent), Romania (0.6 percent), India (0.4
percent) and Indonesia (0.1 percent).
Migration is now more widely distributed across more countries. The top 10 countries of
destination receive a smaller share of all migrants than in 2000.
Migration seen as the flow of money
Estimated remittances sent by migrants in 2010
- Remittances have increased exponentially: up from USD 132 billion in 2000 to an
estimated USD 440 billion in 2010, even with a slight decline due to the economic crisis. The
actual amount, including unrecorded flows through formal and informal channels, is
believed to be significantly larger
