Migration Flashcards
Why has migration increased?
- Globalisation - Increased connectivity (EU), and decreased travel times (12 hour flights from Hong Kong to UK), and the English being the lingua franca of the world and being taught in schools.
- War and conflict - Syrian migrants escaping civil war to Europe - 2015, 200,000 syrian immigrants to Germany.
- Economic opportunities - Mexico, has large income inequality - gini coefficient of 0.5. Main driver of mexican immigrants to the USA is due to their economic situation.
Why is migration a complex global issue?
- Sensationalism around overpopulation - Net migration in the UK in 2022 was 606,000, whereas live births was around 624,000. Migrants move to urban areas which usually have a cap on urban sprawl, green belt in London. Housing crisis.
- Economic benefits from migration are multifaceted - Bringing economic growth but can put strain on public services such as the NHS due to the amount of people entering the country. Migrant men are more likely to be employed than UK-born men (83% vs 78%), creating disparity between UK-born and Migrants. Chinese and Indians are the biggest earners in the Uk
- Migration and the Far Right. Brothers of Italy in 2022 won the Election. Giorgia Meloni and her party are conflating boat drivers transporting immigrants to italy with “smulgglers and “human traffickers”. Can lead to an increase in hate crime.
- Migration can create tension between migrant groups. Turkish and Armenian clash in Frash during Pro-armenian rally 2020, 4 people attacked.
New causes of migration and old causes of migration.
New causes:
* Remittances due to internet access - 22% of Nepal’s economy is from remittances.
* Relaxing migration policies - Introduction of “indefinite leave to remain” allows anyone with a visa who has lives in the UK for 5 years to become british citizens.
Old causes:
* Escaping oppression and conflict - Pilgrims on the Mayflower travelled to the thirteen colonies to escape political and religious persecution. Hassidic Jews moving to Brooklyn due to anti-semitism increasinng in 1800s Europe. Syrian migrants moving to Germany, 200,000 in 2015.
* Educational Attainment - Harrow school, Nehru first indian prime-minister in early 1900s.
South China Sea case study
- 21% of the world’s trade passes through the South China Sea, amounting to over $3.1 trillion.
- 11 billion barrels of oil in the South China Sea.
- China’s historical claim on the South China Sea with the 9 dash line overlaps with EEZs of other countries.
- China is building military bases on the spratley islands by using dredging to increase their EEZ and military presence.
- Philippines took China to court for economic and military activity within their waters without authorisation, such as building military bases. China was deemed as committing unlawful activities.
- USA talks with Taiwan such as Nancy Pelosi’s visit in 2022 increased tensions between USA and China, with China saying there will be “serious consequences”. Nothing happened. Taiwan is claimed by China, and the Taiwan government is unlawful and rebellious.
Arctic tensions case study
- Due to climate change, the arctic ice shelf is decreasing. As a result, the USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia have all claimed and extension of the EEZs into the arctic circle up to the Lomonosov ridge.
- First offshore oil platform was set up in 2013 by Gazprom.
- Estimated 160 billion barrels of oil under the arctic surface.
- Russia has reintroduced their military presence in the arctic, with more Military bases than NATO.
- Nato military exercise around a war in the arctic in 2022.
Why are nation states formed?
- Shared historical cultural identity - England formed in 927AD as anglo-saxon nations unified.
- Historical influences such as genocide and exchange of people. Due to a shared, tumultuous history, Greece and turkey both had significant populations of Turks and Greeks. Population exchange in 1923. Turkey committed genocide against Christian Armenians and Greeks during the first WW1.
- Racial, and religious and cultural differences driving revolution. 1830 Belgian revolution, French speaking, Catholic south of Netherlands Vs North, dutch speaking Netherlands.
- Lack of representation and autonomy - 1776, six year war, tax without representation in the USA. Despite being a British colony, the USA adopted a new American culture.
Why may modern states contest their borders?
- Resources - Somalia and Kenya in 2021 contested over their EEZ on the Indian ocean where it is believed to be rich in oil and gas.
- Access to trade - Russia wants a warm, ice-free port. Sevastopol invaded in 2014.
- Ethnic borders - Luhansk and Donetsk russian majority wanted to join Russia.
- Colonial reasons - Halaib triangle between Sudan and Egypt. 1899 22nd North Parallel vs Administrative boundary set up in 1902
Why may identity of nations differ from each other?
- Geographical factors - borders may provide barriers for immigration and invasion. 23% of international borders are made from rivers.
- Multiculturalism - USA and Canada founded on immigration - 1790s in the USA led to naturalisation of white immigrants into Europe written into the constitution.
- Colonialism - Kenya and Tanzania’s identity is not based around a culture, but the country itself. Kikuyu only make up 17% of Kenya, making Kenya a minority, majority country. Cannot make identity around culture as there will be too much conflict.
- Isolationism policy - Japan. Shintoism is native to japan, one of the oldest religions too.
How has nationalism changed the modern world.
- Nationalism has led to the creation of nation states - Belgium in 1830.
- Nationalism has led to increased tensions and conflict between countries. Russian nationalism and uniting Russian populations.
- Anti-migrant policies - Nationalism arguably led to 2018 bill in Hungary preventing asylum seekers from claiming asylum if their life is not at risk in their home country.
- Rise in the alt-right and far-right - Giorgia Meloni.
What are low tax regimes?
- Low tax regimes are the result of globalisation and the rise of TNCS.
- Low tax regimes offer little to no company tax on companies willing to set up there. TNCs transfer their money to these companies on the tax havens so their money does not have to be taxed.
- Cayman Islands offers no tax on comapnies. Over 100,000 companies are based there, despite only havign aroudn 30,000 people.
- Tax avoidance costs the US economy $1 trillion per year in unpaid taxes.
“In the future, national identity will be even more difficult to define” Evaluate this statement.
Agree:
1. National identity may be put at odds with migrant populations. London is 37% foreign born, with 1.3 million muslims in 2021. Muslim culture directly opposes Britain’s consumption of pork and alcohol etc.
- Key tenants of national identity are on the increase, such as state religion and monarchism. 41 of 18-24 year olds in 2021 wanted an elected head of state rather than the British Monarchy. 52% of the UK state their religion as none.
Disagree:
1. Anti-immigration policies are on the rise and some countries show little sign for migration - Japan is 98% Japanese, many migrants are just japanese expats and migrants to different countries such as Brazil who come back. Shintoism is still a core part of japanese culture, despite the majority of people stating they have no religion. Kyoto shrines as ceremonial ritualism.
- Migration can make national identity change, rather than being hard to define. Multiculturalism in the UK may become its new identity, as shown in British values of tolerance of other cultures and religions. Britain’s national dish is chicken tikka masala.
What are the main causes for disunity within a nation?
- Ethnic, religious and cultural group tensions - Al-Shabaab terrorist group believes in a greater islamic somalia. This led to westgate shopping mall shooting in 2013, 71 people died.
- Deprivation and inequality - revolution in Cuba due to rampant poverty exacerbated by USA control over their economy. Before 1959 revolution, USA controlled 80% of Cuba’s trade, 40% of sugar plantations. This led to the regular Cuban people to be poor, 1/4 peasants were able to afford regular foodstuffs. This led to communist revolution.
- Changing ideals - overturning of Roe V Wade (1973) in 2022 which protected a person’s right to have an abortion, with 12 states having a near-total ban of abortion. Progressive vs Conservatives.
- Historical grievances - disunity under the Ameircan flag due to Slavery, redlining and jim crow laws. BLM riots in 2020.
Why are there ethnic variations among nations?
- Colonialism
- Amount of migration
- Genocide - Argentina in the 1800s systemically wiped out their Afro-Argentinian population.
What types of conflicts have the UN peacekeepers been in?
Civil wars - Angolan civil war, Marxist faction vs Maoist. To oversee and maintain ceasefire.
Genocide - Rwandan genocide of the tutsis - 1994. Maintain security and stability in Rwanda.
Wars between countries - Indo-Pakistan war, 1965 over Kashmir. Led resolution
How has a globalised world led to more complex migration patterns
- Rural to urban migration due to SEZs, hukou system. 220 million in 2010.
- introduction of digital remittances making migration more attractive
- inequality across the world is increasing- Mexico
- loosening of migration laws - indefinite leave to remain
