Migration, Identity & Sovereignty

Migration, Identity & Sovereignty

1. The Impacts of Globalisation on International Migration

   • Economic Systems & Labour flows
     • - Modern transport networks enable global labour flows to operate - The vast rise in trade between some countries (India & UK) has resulted in a decline in migration - Much international migration is relatively regionalised; USA &Mexico, Germany & Poland
     • National & International Migration Patterns
       • National Core - Periphery Systems develop and strengthen over time due to positive feedback effects
         • Uneven economic growth may be linked to a naturally advantage that one 'core' region enjoys over others (raw materials/presence of coastline)
         • Over time, any initial imbalance becomes exaggerated due to the perpetual outflow of migrants, resources and investments from peripheral regions to the core. These flows are called backwash effects.
         • The process of core-periphery polarisation is repeated at large spatial scales (EU Schengen)
           • Within the EU free movement of labour has helped an international core-periphery pattern to develop
             • The EU core region encompasses Southern England, Northern France, Belgium & much of Western Germant
               • Labour migration flows from Eastern & Southern Europe are directed towards these places
           • Most national border controls in the EU were removed in 1995
             • This enables easier movements of people and goods within the EU & means passports do not usually have to be shown at borders
               • The UK is not part of this agreement
             • + EU labour can move to where there is most demand
             • - Once someone is in one EU country they can move freely amongst others
               • Fears of terrorism and uncontrolled refugee movements has led to some questioning the free movement decision
       • Global systems encourage rural-urban migration within countries through; the introduction of mechanisation, employment pull factors in urban areas
         • CHINA
           • 1978 - 20% of the population lived in cities Now - 55% of the population live in cities
           • The relocation of 400 million rural people gave many cities a 'site factor' certain to attract FDI (due to large modestly priced labour force)
           • The Chinese government's authorisation of free movement can be viewed as a rational economic decision allowing the country to benefit from globalisation
           • The 'migrant miracle' that followed underpinned 30 years of rapid economic growth
         • SPAIN
           • Core-periphery growth has accelerated to the extent that rural regions of East Madrid have been abandoned
             • Following decades of depopulation, just 8 people per square km now remain in one of Europe's least populated areas.
             • Provinces such as Terual and Soria have 600 villages with < 100 people & and average age of 57
           • High rural unemployment has meant that young people continue to seek out opportunities in Madrid & Barcelona
           • The low birth rate means rural recovery is unlikely.
             • When local schools close, a tipping point is often reached, from which there is no return
       • Variations In Migrant Population Size
         • 3-4% of the world's population lives outside the country of their birth
           • This has barely changed, even with the number of international migrants increasing due to an increase in population
             • (1950 -2015) 2.5 billion - 7.3 billion
         • In order for a state to become deeply integrated into global systems, it's government needs to adopt liberal immigration rules
         • Inward investment from TNCs may depend on ability to transfer staff to a nation
     • Changes In the Global Pattern of Migration
   • The Complex Causes of Migration
     • Economic, Social & Political Reasons for Movement
       • Migrants moving from Africa to Europe have payed > £1000 to traffickers
       • Family : Spouses and children may follow workers overseas
         • Extended family then follow creating diaspora
           • Post Colonial migrant flows to the UK involved movements of large numbers of people from former colonies of the British Empire
       • Conflict: War & persecution were responsible for the international displacement of of millions in 2015
         • 70,000 Rohingya Muslims fled persecution in the Buddhist- majority Rakhine state in Myanmar
     • Mediterranean Migration
       • Illegal migration to Europe began to grow noticeably in 2006
         • Rising numbers of migrants from North Africa & the Middle East have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in unsafe boats
       • By 2016 - 1 million people had attempted the crossing
       • Sending regions include; Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Syria
       • Issues
         • Deaths at Sea
           • April 2014 - 700 people died off the coast of Lampedusa (Italy)
           • By the end of the year 3700 had died under similar circumstances
           • 160,000 were rescued at sea (majority from Libya)
         • Political Reaction
           • Most arrive in Greece or Italy, where under EU rules, asylum requests must be processed
             • They want to see resettlement shared across EU members
           • Germany has taken in hundreds of thousands
         • Ethical Debate
           • 2015 - The number of accepted asylum seekers < 0.1% of the EU population
           • December 2015 - A suicide bomber in Paris was revealed to be a Syrian Refugee who had travelled from Greece to France
             • The political debate over border passport checks in the EU has intensified
     • Economic Rationale
   • Differing Perspectives on the Consequences of Migration

2. Nation States in a Globalised World

   • States & the Processes That Shape Them
   • Nationalism, Colonialism & the Modern World
   • State Strategies in Response to Economic Globalisation

3. Global Organisations & Their Impact

   • Global Organisations in the Post-1945 World
   • Intergovernmental Organisations & World Trade
   • Global Environmental Governance

4. Threats to State Sovereignty

   • The Elusive Concept of National Identity
   • Challenges to National Identity
   • The Consequences of Disunity Within Nations & States

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