Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth...

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Europe’s Eastern Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from Borders: Migration from an Economic and an Economic and Geographic Periphery? Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB QUB

Transcript of Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth...

Page 1: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

Europe’s Eastern Borders: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery?and Geographic Periphery?

I G ShuttleworthI G ShuttleworthSchool of Geography, Archaeology School of Geography, Archaeology

and Paleoecologyand PaleoecologyQUBQUB

Page 2: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

OutlineOutline Earlier migrations from the East – a Earlier migrations from the East – a

biographical note from Polandbiographical note from Poland The paradoxes of contemporary The paradoxes of contemporary

labour migrationlabour migration Cores and peripheries in the New Cores and peripheries in the New

Europe?Europe? ConclusionConclusion

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Earlier migrations from the Earlier migrations from the East – a biographical note from East – a biographical note from

PolandPoland Poland has Poland has

traditionally been a traditionally been a country of country of emigrationemigration

Immobility of the Iron Immobility of the Iron Curtain the Curtain the exception rather exception rather than the rulethan the rule

Most EU states have Most EU states have substantial numbers substantial numbers of Poles and people of Poles and people of Polish descentof Polish descent

Page 4: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

Earlier migrations from the Earlier migrations from the East – a biographical note from East – a biographical note from

PolandPoland The fall of the Iron Curtain and the The fall of the Iron Curtain and the

accessions of May 2004 have meant a accessions of May 2004 have meant a return to ‘business as normal’ – a new return to ‘business as normal’ – a new period of emigration to the Westperiod of emigration to the West

A unified European labour market (in A unified European labour market (in part)part)

But is it business as normal?But is it business as normal? Is the current migration different to Is the current migration different to

that seen in the past?that seen in the past?

Page 5: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Poles in the UK are very diverse in their Poles in the UK are very diverse in their

characteristics (so hard to generalise)characteristics (so hard to generalise)– Skilled and young people practicing EnglishSkilled and young people practicing English– But a less-skilled componentBut a less-skilled component

Repairs, cleaning, drivingRepairs, cleaning, driving From diverse parts of PolandFrom diverse parts of Poland

Hard to estimate numbers with such a Hard to estimate numbers with such a mobile populationmobile population

But something new is happening in NI; But something new is happening in NI; rural parts of the UK; small towns etcrural parts of the UK; small towns etc

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The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Argument: the current emigration from Argument: the current emigration from

countries like Poland to the old EU differs countries like Poland to the old EU differs qualitatively from that seen in the past; qualitatively from that seen in the past; more than just a result of the opening of more than just a result of the opening of borders; more complex than just filling borders; more complex than just filling labour shortageslabour shortages

One reason: the 1990s and the early 21One reason: the 1990s and the early 21stst Century saw large-scale immigration to the Century saw large-scale immigration to the USA and other developed economiesUSA and other developed economies

Are we looking at some broad structural Are we looking at some broad structural change in the world economy? Perhaps so…change in the world economy? Perhaps so…

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The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Paradox I: Much immigration is to areas Paradox I: Much immigration is to areas

with labour surpluses as measured by with labour surpluses as measured by low economic activity rateslow economic activity rates– What is happening to local labour markets What is happening to local labour markets

in the UK and Ireland?in the UK and Ireland?– Attempts to encourage (force?) economic Attempts to encourage (force?) economic

activity rates of host population up by activity rates of host population up by govt.govt.

Paradox II: Govt policy welcomes Paradox II: Govt policy welcomes migrants; as do employers; migrants; as do employers; assessments of positive impact on the assessments of positive impact on the UK and some sectors of the economyUK and some sectors of the economy

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The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Paradox II (Cont): But schizophrenic Paradox II (Cont): But schizophrenic

attitudes towards migration controls attitudes towards migration controls and borders (cuts across orthodox and borders (cuts across orthodox lines of left and right in politics); lines of left and right in politics); open borders and employers’ needs open borders and employers’ needs versus anti-migration rhetoric and versus anti-migration rhetoric and policiespolicies

Paradox III: Wider contradictions in Paradox III: Wider contradictions in views about globalisation, the EU and views about globalisation, the EU and the statethe state

Page 9: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Much contemporary migration is Much contemporary migration is

individualistic, privatised (eg through individualistic, privatised (eg through employment agencies – not closely employment agencies – not closely regulated), and unlike migratory regulated), and unlike migratory flows in the 1950s and 1960s (eg flows in the 1950s and 1960s (eg bilateral arrangements between bilateral arrangements between employers and states)employers and states)

What then are we seeing?What then are we seeing?

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The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Crisis and transformation in the labour Crisis and transformation in the labour

markets of countries like the UKmarkets of countries like the UK Deregulation, the ideology of Deregulation, the ideology of

‘flexibility’, and competitive market ‘flexibility’, and competitive market pressures causing downward pressure pressures causing downward pressure in some sectors on wages have in some sectors on wages have created a demand for disciplined, created a demand for disciplined, cheap immigrant labourcheap immigrant labour– Example, agribusinessExample, agribusiness– Brings the ‘periphery’ to the ‘core’Brings the ‘periphery’ to the ‘core’

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The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Cheap labour is essential for some Cheap labour is essential for some

sectors of the UK economy; hencesectors of the UK economy; hence– Govt and employer views on migrationGovt and employer views on migration

Paradox I: Not a paradox if seen in Paradox I: Not a paradox if seen in light of problems in ‘encouraging’ light of problems in ‘encouraging’ engagement with low-wage sector of engagement with low-wage sector of the UK economythe UK economy

Paradox II & III: Not paradoxes if Paradox II & III: Not paradoxes if recognised that state border crossing recognised that state border crossing migrants are more open to migrants are more open to exploitation than host workersexploitation than host workers

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The Paradoxes of The Paradoxes of Contemporary Labour Contemporary Labour

MigrationMigration Paradoxes II & III (cont.): Especially Paradoxes II & III (cont.): Especially

so if unsure of rights; and recognition so if unsure of rights; and recognition that international migrant labour is that international migrant labour is qualitatively different to host labour qualitatively different to host labour by virtue of crossing bordersby virtue of crossing borders

This is especially true if non-EU This is especially true if non-EU borders are crossed; but still true if borders are crossed; but still true if we consider migrants within the EU we consider migrants within the EU

Page 13: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

Cores and Peripheries in the Cores and Peripheries in the New Europe?New Europe?

At one level, countries like Poland have At one level, countries like Poland have resumed a ‘traditional’ role as a labour-resumed a ‘traditional’ role as a labour-exporting periphery to Western Europeexporting periphery to Western Europe

The loss of skilled workers through The loss of skilled workers through ‘brain drain’ may limit the economic ‘brain drain’ may limit the economic development potential for some parts development potential for some parts of Poland and some types of activity of Poland and some types of activity (eg in Health)(eg in Health)

But what we are seeing now is far more But what we are seeing now is far more than a simple core-periphery patternthan a simple core-periphery pattern

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Cores and Peripheries in the Cores and Peripheries in the New Europe?New Europe?

Neo-liberalism and the acceptance of Neo-liberalism and the acceptance of market discipline in Western Europe market discipline in Western Europe means that the periphery’ is means that the periphery’ is increasingly ‘coming home’ to increasingly ‘coming home’ to Western labour marketsWestern labour markets

The consequences of labour market The consequences of labour market restructuring in the periphery in restructuring in the periphery in places like Poland mean that there places like Poland mean that there are jobless people who can fill labour are jobless people who can fill labour demands elsewhere in the EUdemands elsewhere in the EU

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Cores and Peripheries in the Cores and Peripheries in the New Europe?New Europe?

At the same time, Poland has been At the same time, Poland has been said to be a destination for immigrants said to be a destination for immigrants from further East (500,000 Ukrainians from further East (500,000 Ukrainians in Poland (Iglicka 2001))in Poland (Iglicka 2001))

As investment increases in the East, As investment increases in the East, the attractiveness of countries like the attractiveness of countries like Poland for immigrants is likely to growPoland for immigrants is likely to grow

A cascading system of cores and A cascading system of cores and peripheries marked out by migratory peripheries marked out by migratory flowsflows

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Cores and Peripheries in the Cores and Peripheries in the New Europe?New Europe?

A Rio Grande on the Bug for Fortress A Rio Grande on the Bug for Fortress Europe? Europe?

May restrict immigration from the May restrict immigration from the East in the short term but if East in the short term but if employers’ taste for cheap labour (in employers’ taste for cheap labour (in Poland) and Western Europe to cut Poland) and Western Europe to cut costs and increase market share costs and increase market share continues then the Bug may prove as continues then the Bug may prove as permeable as the Rio Grandepermeable as the Rio Grande

Page 17: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

ConclusionConclusion Remarks made in the absence of Remarks made in the absence of

extensive empirical informationextensive empirical information Needs recognised by NI govt to Needs recognised by NI govt to

collect information oncollect information on– Immigrant numbers (improve estimation Immigrant numbers (improve estimation

techniques)techniques)– The use of immigrants by employersThe use of immigrants by employers– Interactions with local labour marketsInteractions with local labour markets

These are difficult issues to addressThese are difficult issues to address

Page 18: Europe’s Eastern Borders: Migration from an Economic and Geographic Periphery? I G Shuttleworth School of Geography, Archaeology and Paleoecology QUB.

ConclusionConclusion These are added to by the need to These are added to by the need to

understand more about migration understand more about migration from the perspective of sending as from the perspective of sending as well as receiving countrieswell as receiving countries

Nevertheless, despite these Nevertheless, despite these limitations, there is a good case that limitations, there is a good case that we have entered a new age of we have entered a new age of migration in Europe; one that is migration in Europe; one that is related to fundamental changes in the related to fundamental changes in the labour markets of sending and labour markets of sending and receiving countriesreceiving countries