Migration/Culture

Migration/Culture

1. Push and Pull Factors

   • PUSH
     • Lack of jobs, opportunities and housing
     • Natural disasters, famine, drought and desertification.
     • Tough working conditions
     • Conflict and war refugees
   • PULL
     • Job opportunities
     • Better living conditions
     • Better services

2. Case Studies

   • MUMBAI
     • Slums have a population of 6.25 million (54% of Mumbai)
     • Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. It represents one of the most diversified economies, including manufacturing, government institutions, trade/services and engineering.
     • Squatters have to pay compensation for unauthorised occupation of land. Slums located on government land could easily be improved.
     • Almost 60% felt their slums were tolerable. They greatly value education and have an optimistic view of their chances of upward social mobility.
   • CHINA
     • The growth of the fast-food market, creation of cars and lack of excersise contribute to the obesity crisis. The spread of a western diet is changing diets around the world, links to rising obesity in emerging countries. A fast-food, consumer culture is very wasteful to resources.

3. International Migration5

   • When countries become linked through production and consumption, you experience flows of elite migration. Affluent people whose investmnet is sought after are encouraged through tax breaks and other inducements.
   • People who are highly skilled face very few barriers to migration.
   • The UK has a five-tier points system set out in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Tier 1 migrants are high value migrants with over £1 million invested in UK based institutions.
   • International immigration creates multicultural societies where people adopt cultures. It also causes social interdependence as diasporas are dependent on where they live.
   • Migrants benefit host nations, filling gaps in labour markets. Source countries suffer from 'brain drain' when skilled workers leave.

4. Positive/Negative of cultural diffusion

   • POSITIVE
     • Greater empowerment of women in developing countries
     • Allows discriminated and disadvantaged groups to succeed (LGBT and disabled)
     • Reduced prejudice
   • NEGATIVE
     • The 'western' diet has spread around the world - linked to rising levels of obesity
     • Distinctive cultures, languages and ways of life are being eroded and lost
     • Envrironmental concerns - rainforest loss and big game hunting

5. Westernised Culture

   • Wealth creation, earning money in order to buy consumer goods and high levels of consumption
   • Private enterprise, where people own business rather than the government owning them.
   • Success, which is measured by how wealthy you are and how much you buy
   • Fashion, technology and trends, which are important in western culture
   • An attitude that the physical environment should be exploited for its natural resources to create wealth
   • Western culture has improved opportunities for traditonally disadvantaged groups. Global media coverage of the Paralympics, Gay Pride marches and cases of sexual discrimination helps erode prejudice. Culture prizes democracy, reduced discrimination and increased freedom.

6. Positive/Negative of diasporas

   • POSITIVES
     • Creates a sense of community/protection
     • Multiculturalism (cultural diffusion)
     • Useful services (cultural/religious)
     • Maintains sense of identity/culture
   • NEGATIVES
     • Increase in xenophobia and racism
     • More niche shops (lack of inclusion)
     • People are excluded from new communities

7. What increased migration?

   • Open border to migration, such as within the EU
   • FDI, encouraging TNC workers to move overseas
   • Deregulation of some job markets, allowing foreign qualified workers
   • Humanitarian crises, which created large numbers of refugees (5 million in Syria)

8. What is creating tension?

   • Large immigrant populations
   • Open borders and deregulation of the employment market (eastern Europeans in the UK)
   • TNCs have utilised liberal policies and increased FDI which has resulted in firms bringing in skilled workers from abroad
   • Demands to limit immigration due to the rising demand of service
   • Right-wing extremist groups gaining popularity
   • Concerns over use of natural resources such as water that cross national boundaries
   • The move by many governments to be protectionist in their global views and to limit global interaction

9. Impacts

   • Number of environmental/social challenges, including slum development, lack of housing services, sanitation and formal employment
   • Air and water pollution, disease, congestion and crime

10. Benefits/Costs of Host/Source countries

    • HOST
      • Low wage workers carrying out unskilled jobs
      • Gains a more skilled workforce
      • Integrating other cultures (multiculturalism)
      • Counteracts ageing population. More people paying taxes.
      • Cultural tension with migrant population
      • Strain on national resources
      • Foreign qualifications can be non-transferable
      • Language barriers and expansion of urban areas
    • SOURCE
      • Less overcrowding and strain on services
      • Remittance payments boost income of families
      • Lack of skilled/qualified workers (brain drain)
      • Negative multiplier effect
      • Lack of taxation and mass emigration caused under-employment