Summary Castles & Miller – The Age of Migration
Chapter 1 – Introduction
International migration has a major impact on societies (ex. 1-2) o Receiving countries
experience a rapidly increasing diversity and face new dilemmas as they face the changes
that come with this.
o Migrants can be portrayed as excluded, non-integrated or as security threats.
The challenges of global migration
• Humans have always moved in search of new opportunities, or to escape pending doom.
o 16th century – mid 19th century: age of mass migration o 1850-1914: age of
transatlantic migration o 1980-: age of global migration
• Mobility has become much easier as a result of political and cultural changes, as well as
new transportation and communication technologies.
• Sovereignty: nation-states have absolute authority in society, no outside powers can
intervene.
1. International migration challenges this idea, as states lose their ability to control
the movement of people within and across their borders (irregular migration).
2. Transnationalism gives people durable relations with two or more societies at
once.
• Migration has enormous economic and social consequences, which might develop into
political forces through transnational societies and regional cooperation.
o It overcomes the violence of nationalism, but it also creates new conflicts
(terrorism).
• Much of migration is driven by people who seek a future outside of their countries of
birth.
o This is a response to overpopulation, excessive urbanisation and unemployment.
o People migrate as manual workers, qualified specialists, entrepreneurs or family.
• There are new forms of migration which blur the divides between temporary and
permanent.
• Migration of people is often tied to the movements of capital and commodities.
• Growing inequalities between North and South will continue to increase migration rates.
o People wish to escape conflicts and pressures or desire better living standards. o
Free trade agreements and labour migration will attract more migration flows.
o Economic growth will give more people the means to move.
• While relative migration rates are 2-3%, absolute numbers have been growing fast. o
Credible statistics are lacking for certain regions of the world.
• Much migration is ‘forced’, with people fleeing from war, violence or natural disasters.
• Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs): refugees who remain inside their country of origin. o
This is often the most common migration, emigration is usually the exception.
• The local influences of migration are enormous, for example through remittances.
Contemporary migrations: general trends
• The old dichotomy between migrant-sending and migrant-receiving states is being eroded.
• The USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have always been immigration
countries. o Now Eastern Europe is also becoming immigration countries.
Chapter 1 – Introduction
International migration has a major impact on societies (ex. 1-2) o Receiving countries
experience a rapidly increasing diversity and face new dilemmas as they face the changes
that come with this.
o Migrants can be portrayed as excluded, non-integrated or as security threats.
The challenges of global migration
• Humans have always moved in search of new opportunities, or to escape pending doom.
o 16th century – mid 19th century: age of mass migration o 1850-1914: age of
transatlantic migration o 1980-: age of global migration
• Mobility has become much easier as a result of political and cultural changes, as well as
new transportation and communication technologies.
• Sovereignty: nation-states have absolute authority in society, no outside powers can
intervene.
1. International migration challenges this idea, as states lose their ability to control
the movement of people within and across their borders (irregular migration).
2. Transnationalism gives people durable relations with two or more societies at
once.
• Migration has enormous economic and social consequences, which might develop into
political forces through transnational societies and regional cooperation.
o It overcomes the violence of nationalism, but it also creates new conflicts
(terrorism).
• Much of migration is driven by people who seek a future outside of their countries of
birth.
o This is a response to overpopulation, excessive urbanisation and unemployment.
o People migrate as manual workers, qualified specialists, entrepreneurs or family.
• There are new forms of migration which blur the divides between temporary and
permanent.
• Migration of people is often tied to the movements of capital and commodities.
• Growing inequalities between North and South will continue to increase migration rates.
o People wish to escape conflicts and pressures or desire better living standards. o
Free trade agreements and labour migration will attract more migration flows.
o Economic growth will give more people the means to move.
• While relative migration rates are 2-3%, absolute numbers have been growing fast. o
Credible statistics are lacking for certain regions of the world.
• Much migration is ‘forced’, with people fleeing from war, violence or natural disasters.
• Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs): refugees who remain inside their country of origin. o
This is often the most common migration, emigration is usually the exception.
• The local influences of migration are enormous, for example through remittances.
Contemporary migrations: general trends
• The old dichotomy between migrant-sending and migrant-receiving states is being eroded.
• The USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have always been immigration
countries. o Now Eastern Europe is also becoming immigration countries.
