Migration - A never-ending story

IFLRY SeminarMigration: Enriching Societies

Presented by Yves Joukes, Virva Leväinen and Bram Has

23.7.2011

23.7.2011

MIGRATION – WHAT THE HELL?

Forced migration

migration

Emigration

Immigration

Irregular migrants

Temporary labour migrant Highly skilled and business migrant

Voluntary migration

Forced migration

Family reunification

Return migrants

Roma and travelerTransit migration

Schengen agreement

Asylum-seeker

Refugee

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Countries

• Denmark and Canada: point system• Netherlands: language exams in native

country• Brazil: internal migration (from north to south)• Russia: high skilled emigrants, low skilled

immigrants, internal migration

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What is populism?

1. Against the established political structures2. The will of the people is central3. Charismatic leadership4. Unity and patriotism

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Timo Soini, True Finns

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Sarah Palin, Republican Party

Nick Griffin, BNP

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Myths and factsa) Most of the world’s migrants are refugees,

asylum-seekers or undocumented.

b) The world’s largest category of migrants is made up of economic unskilled workers.

c) Most migrants come from the world’s least developed countries and lowest socio-economic classes.

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Highly Skilled; 4%

Low Skilled; 25%

Visa-Free; 7%

Students; 21%

Family Based 12%

Asylum Seekers; 3%

Refugeees; 11%

Undocumented; 18%

Sources: University of Oxford International Migration Institute (2011) How Migration Shaped our World and will Define our Future; US Department of Homeland Security (2007) “Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States;” Hamburg Institute of International Economics (2008) Database on Irregular Migration

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Myths and factsa) Migrants to developed countries steal jobs

from native-born workersb) Migrants to developed countries exert

downward pressure on wagesc) Migrants to developed countries have higher

overall crime rates than indigenous populations.

d) Migrants are a burden on developed countries’ welfare systems (health and social services)

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How to deal with populism?

• Populists use the heart, so just facts are not enough

• Facts are still needed• It shouldn’t be forgotten, that migration has

also negative sides, be realistic!• Be clear and have a simple message• Speeches and actions of populists should be

followed and reported

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What to do now?

• Resolutions• Connect with the immigrants as individual• Influence your own organization/mother party• Roma seminar• Migration seminar of LYMEC in November

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…solutions are based on tolerance!Problems are based on fear…