Unit 5 - Essays - International Migration - SIMPLE ENGLISH UPDATED Flashcards
With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which refugee flows
impact more on receiving/destination areas in LICs/MICs than on
receiving/destination areas in HICs.
Paragraph 1: LICs/MICs face bigger economic problems than HICs
Main Point: Poorer countries struggle more financially because they do not have enough money to support refugees. Richer countries have stronger economies, so they can handle the cost better.
Evidence & Explanation:
Lebanon (MIC): Has taken 1.5 million Syrian refugees, which is 25% of its total population.
This is a huge increase in people needing jobs, houses, and food.
Lebanon’s economy lost $7.5 billion between 2011 and 2016 because of the crisis.
Jordan (MIC): Has over 760,000 Syrian refugees.
Za’atari refugee camp has 80,000 people and costs $1.2 million every day to run.
Germany (HIC): Took in over 1 million refugees, but its strong economy allowed it to set aside €93 billion (2016–2020) to support them.
Why This Matters:
LICs/MICs do not have enough money to handle refugees and rely on international aid.
HICs, even though they spend a lot, can afford the costs without collapsing.
Paragraph 2: LICs/MICs struggle more with services like hospitals, schools, and housing
Main Point: LICs/MICs already have weak healthcare, schools, and housing. When refugees arrive, these services become even more overburdened. HICs, though affected, have better systems to handle this.
Evidence & Explanation:
Lebanon (MIC):
80% of Syrian refugees are very poor and depend on public hospitals.
Hospitals have had a 170% increase in patients, leading to medicine shortages and longer waiting times.
Education system is struggling → Schools now run double shifts (Lebanese children in the morning, refugees in the afternoon).
Jordan (MIC):
Jordan has very little water, and now there are too many people using it.
Water supply per person has dropped by 40% since 2011.
Germany (HIC):
Built 500,000 new houses to prevent homelessness.
Sweden (HIC):
Provides free education and language classes to help refugees settle.
Why This Matters:
LICs/MICs cannot expand hospitals and schools quickly and struggle to help both their own citizens and refugees.
HICs can build new houses and schools to manage the crisis better.
Paragraph 3: HICs face more political and social problems than LICs/MICs
Main Point: While LICs/MICs face economic struggles, HICs have more political and social tensions. Many people in HICs do not want refugees, which leads to protests and changes in politics.
Evidence & Explanation:
Germany (HIC):
A far-right political party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), became popular after the refugee crisis.
Their votes increased from 4.7% in 2013 to 12.6% in 2017 because many people were against accepting refugees.
Sweden (HIC):
Sweden Democrats (anti-refugee party) got 17.5% of votes in 2018, showing that many people opposed immigration.
Lebanon and Jordan (MICs):
Refugees speak the same language (Arabic) and share similar culture, so they fit in better socially.
However, some locals complain that refugees take jobs and push down wages.
Why This Matters:
HICs face more political division because of cultural differences.
LICs/MICs do not have as many political problems, but local people may feel angry about job competition.
Paragraph 4: Long-term impact: LICs/MICs suffer for many years, while HICs may recover
Main Point: Over time, LICs/MICs may never fully recover from the economic impact, while HICs might eventually benefit from refugees joining the workforce.
Evidence & Explanation:
Lebanon (MIC):
The economy has not recovered because many refugees cannot go home, so they stay dependent on aid.
35% of informal workers in Lebanon are Syrian refugees, which reduces job opportunities for locals.
Germany (HIC):
At first, it was expensive to support refugees, but by 2021, 50% of working-age refugees had jobs.
In the future, refugees may help Germany’s economy by filling job shortages.
Why This Matters:
LICs/MICs struggle for a long time because they do not have a strong economy to recover.
HICs may first face economic costs but later benefit from refugees helping the workforce.
Conclusion
LICs/MICs face bigger problems overall because of weak economies, overstretched hospitals and schools, and long-term dependence on aid.
HICs struggle politically and socially, but their strong economies help them recover over time.
Spatial impact: LICs/MICs near Syria (Lebanon, Jordan) suffer the most because they receive the most refugees.
Time impact: LICs/MICs suffer for decades, while HICs may turn refugees into a benefit in the future.
Final judgment: Refugees affect LICs/MICs far more than HICs, making the crisis much harder for poorer countries.
‘Obstacles have a less important role in international economic migration than in other types of international migration’. With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?
- Economic Migration: Obstacles for Mexicans Moving to the USA
Main Point: Economic migrants move by choice, looking for better jobs and income. They face obstacles, but they can often find ways to overcome them.
Example: Mexico to the USA
Biggest migration route in the world: 11.2 million Mexicans live in the USA (2020, Pew Research).
Why do they migrate? Higher wages and better living conditions in the USA.
Obstacles they face:
Border controls:
The US has a long border wall (1,954 miles) and many border guards.
Harder to cross illegally because of patrols, cameras, and fences.
Visa and legal issues:
Work visas (H-2A, H-2B) exist but have strict limits.
Many Mexicans enter illegally because they cannot get visas.
High costs:
Many pay $7,000 or more to smugglers to cross the border.
Why these obstacles are not the worst:
Many Mexicans still migrate—remittances (money sent home) reached $58.5 billion in 2022 (World Bank).
Some return home if migration fails.
There are still legal ways to enter the USA, such as seasonal work programs.
Conclusion for this section: Obstacles exist, but they are not impossible to overcome. Many economic migrants plan their journey, save money, or find legal ways to migrate.
- Forced Migration: Obstacles for Syrian Refugees
Main Point: Forced migrants do not move by choice. They must leave quickly to survive, so their obstacles are much bigger and more dangerous.
Example: Syrian Civil War
War began in 2011, and over 13 million Syrians had to leave their homes.
6.8 million Syrians became refugees in other countries (UNHCR, 2023).
Unlike economic migrants, Syrians had no time to plan their escape.
Obstacles they face:
Countries blocking refugees:
2016 EU-Turkey deal stopped many Syrians from entering Europe.
Lebanon blocked entry for new Syrian refugees after 2015.
Hungary and Poland built fences to stop refugees from entering.
Dangerous journeys:
Many travel on foot for weeks or cross the sea in unsafe boats.
Over 3,700 refugees drowned in 2015 trying to reach Europe (IOM).
No safe place to go:
Many refugees end up in camps with little food, water, or jobs.
Some countries, like Denmark, took refugees’ valuables to pay for their stay.
Why these obstacles are worse than for economic migrants:
Refugees have no choice—they must leave immediately.
They cannot return home because of war.
Many countries do not accept them, so they have no safe legal route.
Conclusion for this section: Forced migrants face much harder and more dangerous obstacles than economic migrants. They risk their lives and may not be allowed to enter other countries.
- How Obstacles Change Over Time and in Different Places
Main Point: Migration obstacles are different depending on the country, time, and situation.
For economic migrants (Mexico–USA):
Border controls change:
In 2017, the US increased border security, which reduced illegal crossings by 40% (CBP).
However, legal migration still continued—250,000 Mexicans entered through work programs in 2021.
For forced migrants (Syrians):
Countries rarely reduce barriers for refugees:
Since 2011, more European countries have blocked refugees.
Hungary and Poland built fences instead of accepting migrants.
Denmark passed laws to take refugees’ valuables.
Conclusion for this section:
Economic migration rules change based on what a country needs.
Forced migration barriers stay strict because many countries do not want refugees.
- Comparing Economic and Forced Migration Obstacles
Main Point: Economic migrants and forced migrants both face obstacles, but forced migrants have fewer options and more risks.
Why economic migration is easier:
Migrants can plan ahead before moving.
If migration fails, they can return home.
Some countries allow legal entry for workers when they need labor.
Why forced migration is much harder:
Refugees do not choose to migrate—they must flee.
They cannot go back home safely.
Many countries refuse to accept them, leaving them with no choices.
Final judgment: Economic migration has difficulties, but forced migration has much worse obstacles and fewer opportunities for safety.
Conclusion
Both economic and forced migrants face obstacles, but forced migration is much harder.
Economic migrants deal with visas, borders, and costs, but they often have legal ways to enter countries.
Forced migrants (like Syrians) face war, danger, and rejection. Many countries block them, leaving them with no safe options.
Final judgment: Obstacles are much bigger and more serious for forced migrants than for economic migrants.
