Global Migration

Basic Concept:
Definition of Terms
Migration - is the crossing of
the boundary of a political or
administrative unit for a
certain minimum period of
time. It includes the
movement of refugees,
displaced persons, uprooted
people, as well as economic
migrants.
Migrant - any person who is moving
or has moved across an international
border or within a state away from
his/her habitual place of residence,
regardless of (1) the person’s legal
status; (2) whether the movement is
voluntary or involuntary; (3) what
the causes for the movement are ; or
(4) what is the length of the stay is.
 INTRODUCTION
Global Migration
Global migration is a complex phenomenon
that tackles on a multiplicity of economic, social,
security and several aspects affecting our daily lives in
a rapidly interconnecting world.
On the other hand, migration encompasses a
large variety of movements and situations involving
people. Migration is embroiled with geopolitics, trade,
and cultural exchange and provides opportunities for
several countries, business, communities, and cultures
to benefit in grand manner.
 MIGRANT
S
According to the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), a migrant is:
“any person who is moving or has moved across an
international border or within a state away from
his/her habitual place of residence, regardless of (1) the
person’s legal status; (2) whether the movement is
voluntary or involuntary; (3) what the causes for the
movement are ; or (4) what the length of the stay is”
From this definition, two categories of migrants can be
identified:
1. Labor (or economic)and migrants (family
reunification)
2. Forced migrants ( asylum seekers and refugees)
Forced migrants - are those who are compelled to migrate due to adverse
circumstances beyond their control (i.e., war, persecution, etc.).

Asylum seeker - is a person who seeks safety from persecution or serious

harm in a country other than his or her own and awaits a decision on the
application for refugee status under relevant international and national
instruments. In a case of a permission to stay is provided on humanitarian
grounds.

A refugee - is a person who, owing for a well-founded fear of persecution

for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular group
or political opinions, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is
unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail of the protection of that
country (Geneva Convention, 1951 Art. 1A).
Global Demography
Introduction
Demography
Demography is the scientific
study of the determinants and
consequences of human population
trends. By the beginning of the 21st
century, world population reached
6 billion. Most growth has occurred
in the past 200 years.
As can be gleaned from Figure 1, a
massive increase of billions of people
occurred no less than 200 years ago. This
is the global demographic transition,
brought by momentous changes,
reshaping the economic and demographic
life cycles of individuals and
restructuring populations. Clearly, before
the transition, the growth of world
population is close to stationary,
depicting that life is short, births were
many, growth is slow, and the population
is young.

Figure 1. Population growth across time

 The Malthusian Theory
Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) was the first person
to draw widespread attention to the two components of
natural increase - births and deaths (fertility and
mortality). Malthus formulated an essay titled “Essay
on the Principle of Population”, initially published in
1789, wherein he postulated that population tended to
grow geometrically, while the means of subsistence
grew only arithmetically (Figure 2)
Thomas Malthus also argued that the
difference between geometric and arithmetic growth
created a tension between the growth of population and
that means of subsistence - this gap could not persist
indefinitely.

Figure 2. Illustration of Malthusian Theory

The Demographic Transition
During the first half of the 20th century,
demographers concieved the notion of the
demographic transition. The Demographic Transition
Framework illustrates population growth in terms of
discrepancies and changes in two crude vital rates -
mortality and fertility.
Stripped off the essentials, demographic
transition refers to transition from high birth to death
rates to low birth and death rates as a country
develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized
economic system.

Figure 3. Population growth across four stages and levels of growth.

Stage 1: Preindustrial Society - high and unstable birth
and death rates, population growth rate slow, importance
of children, low expectancy

Reasons for the changes in birth Reasons for the changes in

rate: death rate:
1. Children are needed for 1. Disease
farming 2. Famine
2. They die at an early age due to 3. Poor medical knowledge
ilnesses
3. No family planning and
contraception/giving birth is
encouraged by religion and
society
Stage 2: Early Industrial Society - high birth rates,
falling death rate, high population growth.

Reasons for the changes in birth Reasons for the changes in

rate: death rate:
1. Children are needed for farming.
1. Improvements in medical
2. They die at an early age due to care
illnesses.
3. No family planning and
2. Water
conception/giving birth is 3. Supply and sanitation
encouraged by religion and
society. 4. Fewer children die
Stage 3: Late Industrial Society - low death rate,
falling birth rate, high population growth.

Reasons for the changes in Reasons for the changes in

birth rate: death rate:
1. Improved medical care and 1. Improvements in medical
diet care
2. Fewer children are needed 2. Water
for work 3. Supply and sanitation
4. Fewer children die
Stage 4: Post Industrial Society - low birth and death
rates, low population growth.
Reasons for the changes in
birth rate:
1. Family planning
2. Good health
3. Later marriages
4. Improving status of women
Reasons for the changes in
death rate:
1. Good health care
2. Reliable food supply
3. People are living much
longer
 Criticisms of the
Demographic
Transition Theory
The demographic transition theory is
only based on Western societies (Europe,
America, Japan). It is not inevitable that
there will be a fall in fertility rates in less
developed countries. The length of the
time that the countries will traverse in
stages, if they do, is unpredictable. Times
have changed since the developed world
went through demographic transition.
Fertility Transition Theory
This theory states that fertility is declining in the less
developed countries at a rate which exceeds the rate of decline that
was experienced in developed countries. It seems to be related
directly to the extent to which modern contraceptives are
employed. In modern times, information about contraceptives is
widespread due to mass media.
Stripped off the major points, the fertility transition
theory asserts that while economic development can create a
climate conducive to reductions in fertility, it is a change in
cultural attitude about large families and a willingness to use
contraception that matters, aside from the presence and availability
of contraception itself.
Still, opposition to birth control and family planning are
aplenty. The manufacture, distribution, and education about use of
contraceptives remain expensive. Religion can block birth control
programs. Others are of societal concerns: low status of women,
lack of political and economic rights.
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