Using examples, discuss five contemporary trends affecting global migration

Introduction Migration takes place in many different forms, both within a country (internal) and across different countries (international). Technological advances and transportation links have all made migration easier, if not a way of life. Every day we engage in migration through commuting from home to work, or home to school voluntary migration. Yet forced migration, through conflict and warfare is increasing, causing an influx of people into the Western world. As we become more internationally aware, we see that within the act of migration there are certain reoccurring trends, now more prominent in the modern world.

Main Body There are five significant trends that occur in contemporary global migration o The globalisation of migration Increase in TNCs and outsourcing has led to large-scale global migration e.g. Exxon Mobil UK workers in Saudi Arabia Rural-urban migration in LEDCs (partially) due to TNCs placing themselves/jobs in urban areas e.g. China -300m-500m people in cities by 2020 Cultural clashes through international migration but also increased cultural awareness. Segregation of migrant cultures in the West e.g. Chinatown, Little Italy o The acceleration of migration Since 1970s a vast increase in migration 1990s large influx of refugees to Europe due to conflict (1975: 2.4m 1993: 18.2m) Migration much easier in the contemporary world More stringent border controls ease the heavy flow of migration

o The differentiation of migration Countries have more than one type of migration, making international and national policies hard to implement Rural-urban Environmental Labour Family Students

o The feminisation of migration Trafficking migration is dominated by females Females make up 70% of 25m IDPs Historically migration was male-dominated, now far more by females 49% of 175m migrants are female

o The politicisation of migration Migration thwarted by political sanctions, employer sanctions and economic reform Stringent controls at borders and refusal of refugee applications Governments making migrants complete citizenship tests before entering countries (e.g. The Netherlands) Conclusion Global migration has increased dramatically over the past decade, but some governments are now taking the view of halting migration through strict rules and regulations. Migration is a natural phenomenon, but the stringent control of population movements may in the future cause cultural segregation and possibly a loss of identity and anti-globalisation. Another extreme may be where we lose all sense of culture and identity through the exact opposite a great mixture of cultures that cause one super, and globalised, world and culture.

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