Over the years, the Netherlands has seen a massive influx of immigrants, both refugees and economic, from all areas of the world. As a result, the current demographic of the Netherlands is characterized by “20% of the Dutch population [being] immigrants or children of immigrant parents” (Ersanilli, 2007); thus, for that reason the importance of this topic/problem is further elevated. Coming from Curacao, a small island which forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as whose economy depends on tourism and permanent migration, it is interesting to apply theories and empirical data to something that I have accepted as the norm. For some, living in a nation-state where migration is extremely prevalent might not seem the norm, but for me it is; thus, it is compelling to see how this previous knowledge can be applied on a global scale. In order to thoroughly cover the different aspects of migration, the following points will be addressed: key definitions which aid in understanding of the topic; types of migration; the push and pull factors of migration; and the impacts on the source and destination countries. For the better understanding of this topic it is important to understand the distinction between immigrant and emigrant, as well as internal and external migration. Immigrant refers to someone who comes to a foreign country to live permanently, whereas a emigrant refers to an individual who leaves their home country to then permanently reside in a foreign country. Similarly, internal migration refers to people within a country moving to another location within its borders (e.g. from one city to another), whereas external migration refers to the act of migration across borders (e.g. from one country to another). Now that some key terms have been addressed, the types of migrants will be illustrated. People migrate to different countries for various different reasons. This results in the categorization of different migrants in relation to their reason for migrating, whether it be for social or economic reasons. The types of migrants include the following: temporary labor migrants, highly skilled migrants, irregular migrants, forced migrants, family reunification migrants, and return migrants.
Human migration can be influenced by various different stressors, whether it be by choice, in hopes of starting a new adventure, or by force, fleeing brutal persecution of a certain threat. Each individual has a unique story, all coming from different backgrounds and places around the world. However governing and political bodies often need certain labels and categories in order to define such a diverse set of people. Such legal definitions seem unnecessary or extensive due to the limitations they pose onto one’s identity, but they are a byproduct of sketching lines on the landscape and securing borders, protecting those who inhabit and belong.
Migration policies are often designed with the sole objective of influencing international migration by either restricting or encouraging circular migration, immigration or emigration(Ripsman & Paul, 2010). Open border policies have contributed to the uncontrolled to the flow of illegal immigrants into countries and in turn generating challenges to the host countries. The fundamental basis for arguments has been whether open immigration policy or restricted immigration policy
Very often, a large number of people arrive in foreign lands trapped in their status as migrants
Migration is not a new phenomenon throughout the history of human, but the issue of migration has become more of a problem since the emerging of modern states. The distinction between immigrants and local citizens has become official with the emergence of nation-state authority and the ideas of sovereignty, citizenship and nationality. From the 19th century, the control of passport and visa has made the borders between immigrants and citizens even clearer and more identified. Today, as there are more restrictions on entering a country, states have to deal with regulating policies for immigration to control the influx of people
Immigration is the movement of people into another country or region to which they are not native in order to settle there, especially as permanent residents or future citizens. Immigrants are motivated to leave their countries for a variety of reasons, including a desire for economic prosperity, political issues, family reunification, escaping conflict or natural disaster, or simply the wish to change one’s surroundings.
While it is common to hear about ‘migrants and refugees’, it is important to recognise that the two terms refer to very different groups of people. While both groups have effectively moved from one country to another, the circumstances leading up to that move are markedly different for each group.
To begin it is helpful to understand that the word “migrant” is a rather contested concept, one that changes over time, and varies depending on the criteria used to assign it.(Raghuram & Erel, 2014, p.133)
For the last year, people from the various regions of the globe have been fleeing their home countries and migrating toward several nations across Europe. What pushes them away and what draws them to their final destinations? Ascertaining a single motivation of immigration remains too complex to determine because a variety of factors and goals have lead to this grand movement. Several issues arise from increased numbers of immigrants who may or may not be finding what they seek.
The global mobility of human resources between countries is a key driving force of the currently ongoing economic and regional development all over the world. It is indisputable that the immigration of international labour force would exert many positive and important impacts on the economic, cultural and social structure of both migrant-receiving and migrant-sending countries. Actually, the trend of temporary and permanent immigrants increasing in some western countries began to gain momentum in recent years. Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD 2004) reports indicated that there were more than 1 million new immigrants in the United States in 2001 and 2002, increased by 25% from 2000; in some European countries
Thirteen million refugees and about 100 million immigrants have moved across borders within the last several decades (Potocky-Tripodi 2002). Global changes that have currently occured account for an unprecedented movement of individuals across the world in search of better opportunities and conditions.
Nowadays migration is getting to be one of the dominant characteristics of the modern world since at the present moment that movement of people and migration of citizens from one country to another become a norm. Not surprisingly that such unparallel and extremely high level of migration results in substantial demographic, ethnical and socio-cultural changes in many countries of the world.
As a result of all this innovation, immigrants from all over the world came to find a home in Holland. But being the small country it is, the immigrants had nowhere to live and Holland was forced to expand beyond its boundaries, and so the famous canals were built.(rjksmuseum.nl) The Dutch Golden Age has not only contributed to the grown and prosperity of Holland, but it has also set high artistic standards that have not been surpassed.
The dictionary meaning of migration is to movement from one part of something to another. Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another place ( Managalam, 2015).It is of several types such as temporary, permanent, international, internal, voluntary or forced. As the name defined permanent migration is the one in which a person move from his original place or country to another place or country and has no plans to move back to their original home. However, temporary migration is movement from one place to another for limited time. Forced migration is the one in which people have no choice but to move and opposite is true for voluntary migration in which a person make the choice to move out. Internal migration is the movement within the country whereas international migration is the movement from one country to another country(e Schooltoday, 2006). An example of internal migration is the movement of people from Punjab to Haryana whereas an example of international migration is the movement of people from India to Canada.
Migration variations include south to south migrants, south to north migrants, massive internal and transnational migration, slum dwellers, illegal settlements, these grounds, territorial fragmentation, internal displacement, communities and perilous locations.
Fun fact:There is also different types of migration. “Economic migration” is when people are migrating to a country that has a higher percent rate of getting a job. “Social migration” is when you are migrating to start a new life or to live closer to your family. “Political migration” is when people are moving to escape corrupted government or civil war. “Environmental migration” is when natural disasters destroy homes and people try to start a new life in a new country.