Migration Theories and Factors Quiz

Migration Geographies

• Migration is a complex process, involving temporary relocation or permanent movement of people.
• Migration can be categorized by intention (forced or voluntary) and stimulus (natural or social).
• Natural causes of migration include disasters (floods, droughts, volcanoes, tsunamis, tornadoes), environmental factors (insufficient food supply, urban air pollution, desertification, water pollution, climate change), and changes in agricultural production.
• Social causes include political factors (discrimination, territorial expulsion, security concerns, armed conflict), religious factors (oppression, lack of freedom), and socio-economic factors (employment, security).
• Mobility is a broader term encompassing various forms of spatial movement, including circulation (daily commutes, shopping, recreation), seasonal mobility (temporary relocation), and migration (permanent settlement).
• Migration selectivity refers to the tendency for certain types of people (based on factors like age, education, and socioeconomic status) to migrate. The decision to migrate might be based on subjective factors like personal priorities or potentially incorrect information.
• Intervening obstacles to migration can be environmental (mountain ranges, rivers, deserts), or cultural and political (immigration laws, employment regulations, visa requirements). Technology, transportation, and globalization increasingly overcome these obstacles.
• Ravenstein's theory considers push and pull factors driving migration:
  • Push factors (in the place of origin) could be economic (unemployment, economic depression, low currency), environmental (risks, hazards, climate preferences, lack of resources), and cultural/political (war, political atmosphere, religion, intolerance).
  • Pull factors (in the destination place) could be economic (more jobs, better rewards, economic stability, access to resources), environmental (less hazards, favorable climate), and cultural/political (freedom, political change, safety, protection)
• Policy implications of migration have different effects on both the immigration country and the home country, impacting economics (skilled workers, remittances, loss of consumer funds, brain drain), socio-cultural factors (separated families, social imbalances, cultural differences), and environmental factors (resource pressure, urbanization, pollution, and regeneration).
• Migration definitions include:
  • Migrant worker: A person working in a country where they are not a citizen.
  • Remittances: Money sent by migrants to their home countries.
  • Asylum seeker: Someone seeking international protection in a country.
  • Refugee: Someone fleeing persecution in their home country.
  • Internally displaced persons (IDPs): People forced to leave their homes due to conflict but remain within their country.
• Overall, migration patterns and trends have evolved over time, influenced by global events and interconnectedness.

Brain Drain vs Brain Gain

• Global flows of university students show that China exports students but the USA primarily is a destination.
• Studying abroad does not always equal migration, but is an indicator or part of a broader migration pattern.

Diaspora

• Diaspora is a dispersed community with ties to a shared homeland.
• Definitions of diaspora typically center on a sense of shared identity, common vision about their homeland, and a belief that they will never be accepted by their host countries. They believe they will maintain an ongoing interest in their homeland, and possibly return or maintain support.

Typologies of Diaspora

• Victim diasporas– those forced into exile. This type of diaspora is in many instances tied to historical conflict.
• Labour diasporas– those migrating for work and economic opportunity.
• Trade diasporas– those seeking to develop trade links overseas. Often connected to a merchant class or other type of trade.
• Imperial diasporas– those encouraged to migrate or migrate in order to serve a larger empire.
• Cultural diasporas– those migrating through a chain migration process. Those that migrate and settle in another country with a similar cultural background, or those that develop shared traditions because of similar circumstances.

Global Flow of People

• Global flow of people has shown significant changes in migration patterns between 1990 and 2015
• Patterns changed significantly from 1990 to 2015

Other Insights

• Remittances (money sent home) are frequently larger than Foreign Direct Investment (indirect investment) in developing countries.
• Current world migration patterns show more internal migration patterns relative to other types of migration
• There are different types of forced migration, and these include human trafficking, war displacement, political displacement, and other large-scale conflicts
• The number of internally displaced persons is increasing in many parts of the world

Test your knowledge on the various theories and factors influencing migration with this quiz. Explore concepts such as temporary relocation, migration selectivity, and the distinction between forced and voluntary migration. This quiz will also delve into economic impacts and barriers to migration.