Seminar presentation, Queen Mary University, London

1. Dr Berhanu Kassayie

2.  Demystifying the concept ‘migrant’
and migration
 Examining trends and characteristics
of migration
 Exploring evolution in the policy and
regulatory framework as well as the
impact of migration

3. 1. Migration, concept and
London’s new
communities
2. Trends
3. Evolution in policy
4. Migration and its impact

4. Who would be counted as a migrant?
 Asylum seeker
 Refugee
 Overseas student
 A US citizen residing in the UK
 EU citizen in the UK
 Commonwealth citizen in the UK
 Work permit holder
 Tourist
 A person on business
 A child born outside UK

5. Movement of people resulting in the
change of the place of abode by an
individual.
The concept relates to space and time:
1- Space as a usual place of residence,
‘home’ and socially & politically defined in
terms of nationality, citizenship , etc.
2-Time related to permanency of dwellings
determined by institutionally defined time
threshold and associated institutionally
classified reason for staying

6. In mainstream statistics what matters
for International Migration is duration of
stay in or away from the country permanent
residence.
The reality of counting/ census .......
1. declaration in country of departure
and arrival
2. declaration only in country of arrival
3 declaration only in country of
departure
4. no declaration

7.  Contradictory context for immigration
and emigration:
 Emigration internationally recognised
human right but not immigration.
2nd art. of the Universal declaration
of Human Rights of 1948
 Industrialised countries- as opposed to
emigration, immigration is controlled &
restricted
 Netherlands- immigrant after 120 days ,
emigrant after 240 days
 United Nations 1953- at least 1 year both
for immigrant and emigrant, same for UK

8. Premise:
Migration is a historical and permanent
feature of the UK and its specific
Characteristics, impact and the
challenges it poses to society are
dynamic.
.......???

9. No %
British 75 13
EU 197 34
Common Wealth 175 30
Other foreign 131 23
Total 577 100
British Non-British Total
Gross
Immigration
902,000 3,688,000 4,590,000
Gross
Emigration
1,521,000 1,450,000 2,971,000
Net
immigration
-619,000 +2, 238,000 +1,619,000

10. Trends on migration
 Declining refugee protection
 Growing economic migration
 Increased irregularisation of immigrants
UK International Migration 1991-2005
2005: Refugees in Africa 2,571,000, UNHCR

11. Trends in immigration
2004 2005 Change
A8 citizens migrating long-term 52,000 80,000 +54%
Total Asylum Application 33,960 25,710 -25%
More UK example
 565,000 arrive to settled in the UK in 2005
 375,000 eastern European Registered workers 2004 – 2006
 Roughly 310,000 to 570,000 Undocumented migrants 2006
In the mean time in 2005:
 380,000 people left UK to leave abroad
EU Enlargement in 2007:
No Warm Welcome for Labour Migrants

12. World refugee population * 9, 167, 900
Region Refugees Asylum seekers Total
Africa 33 33 33
Asia 39 12 36
Europe 21 29 21
Latin America & Caribbean 0 1 1
Northern America 6 25 8
Oceania 1 0 1
Total 100 100 100
Germany 0.9 0.1 0.8
United Kingdom 0.3 0.9 0.3

13. -20.0%
-15.0%
-10.0%
-5.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
1997-
1998
1998-
1999
1999-
2000
2000-
2001
2001-
2002
2002-
2003
2003-
2004
2004-
2005
Refugees Asylum seekers

14.  Population 49.1m.
Economically inactive 29% or 14.2m
Population support ratio 2.2:1
Asylum seekers 59,000
Potential refugee settlement demand :
0.1% of population
0.001 person / 1000 citizens.
 Getting population support ratio close to the
3:1 would mean:
 95,000 inward migration for the next 20 years
 The deficit in 2001 amounted 35,500

15.  Estimate based on 30% success rate:
Potential refugee settlement:
0.5% population or
0.05 refugees / 1000 citizens.
 Economic implications:
0.03% rise in unemployment
0.007% decline in unfilled vacant
positions
0.001% rise in BME population
0.9 Vacant housing per homeless
person including refugees.

16. Migrants make a positive contribution to the UK

17. UK
born
Foreig
n born
Net
contribution
to exchequer
2001/02
-£222 +£331
Net cost the
exchequer
2003/04
£892 £74

18. Public Services
 Majority of migrants use relatively
fewer public services than indigenous
households
 Inter-community relationship
 Social cohesion within London has
generally remained strong, but there
are pockets

19. Housing Effects
 Migrants form fewer households than
their indigenous counterparts, hence
consume less
 house and live disproportionately in
private rented sector
 Long-term impact depend on income and
churn
 Migrants and foreign investors pressure
on house prices
 Eligible for social housing varies and
changes, is a factor for tension

20.  Historically founded by migrants from Italy
 A multi-cultural world city Cosmopolitan
residents from 147 countries (2001 census)
 Dynamic hyper diversity

21. Dynamic hyper diversity but with some
predominant groups, not necessarily those
featuring in mainstream discourse

25. London’s Population Change: + 800,000
people in 20 years since 1998, total 2
mill
Economic and Labour Market-
 High net inward migration in the working
age range
 employment rates & earnings of
migrants are lower than comparable
Londoners.
 downward pressure on wages at the
bottom end of market encouraging job
growth
 employment and skill potential of
migrants underused

26. The income differential ...

27. Historically, the law of uneven
development across regions and nations
is the primary driver of migration
throughout the world.
Dynamics since 1990
 Rapid globalisation
 The end of the cold war
 Dynamics of Western nations
 September 11

28. Rapid globalisation
 Disproportionate distribution of
advancement and widening gap in
opportunities
 Enhanced flow of capital and
goods but restricted movement of
labour
 The world has become
a global village
 Broader implication to society
 Transnational economy, culture
 Persistent nationalistic
institution

29.  The collapse of the Soviet
system - ‘end of history’
 Capitalist transformation
 Re-emergence of
‘Nationalism ‘New nations’
and new conflicts
 New migration from ‘non-
traditional’ regions
 Increased conflict and
immigration from Third
World
The end of the cold war

30.  Race in ‘globalisation’
 Aging population
 Increased demand for inward
migration
 Rise in right wing politics
 EU enlargement
Dynamics of Western nations

31. Changing times: forces & factors
“... there was a time, not very long ago at
all, when North African diplomats called
Britain “Europe’s terrorist heaven” and its
Capital “Londonistan”. Hundreds of
veterans of jihad struggles in Afghanistan
and North Africa settled in Britain. Where
else could terrorists Receive housing,
unemployment benefit and legal protection
just by applying for asylum?”
The Economist January 2002
Increasing appeal for right-wing
politics
‘Security-led’ immigration policy and
discourse

32. Changing perspective:
A quest to redefine the fundamentals?
The UN 1951 Convention
Exclusion clause
Deterrence led restrictive policy focus
Increasingly restricted means of entry
Off-shore processing in transit
centres
Ethnic profiling, Detention, electronic
monitoring, restricted rights, dispersal
Rediscovering resettlement
Discourse and emerging policy
framework

33.  Managed migration
 The social cohesion agenda:
 A move away from multiculturalism
 Destitution in material welfare
 Integration a governance challenge
of community relation
A human right or positive-contribution
argument for immigration?
Does this mean changes in globally and
in receiving countries are making
refugees ‘visible’ migrants we can do
without?
Discourse and emerging policy
framework

34. The debate to be had:
The right for protraction
Citizenship, culture- dynamic?
Immigration control,
governance and integration
Discourse and emerging policy
framework

35.  A nebulous concept shaped by ideological,
political and socio-historical factors
 A mutual adaptation process focusing on
overcoming the differential disadvantage
of refugees.
Integration the concept

36. Approach
Legal and
Political
domain
Cultural
domain
Social and
economic
domain
Individual
Individual
rights
Liberal
Pluralism
Equal
Opportunity
Group
Group
rights
Multi-
culturalism
Equity /
Affirmative
action
Integration- approaches

37.  Historical roots
 Dissociation of asylum from integration
 Integration policy:
Assimilation / multiculturalism
Community/ social cohesion
 Laissez fare / corporatist
 The social cohesion agenda and
citizenship
 Deterrence led policy
Integration- policy framework

38. The broad picture:
 ‘Fear of the unknown’
 Perceived/ real pressure on resources and opportunities
 Socio cultural diversity
How do these translate into immigrant settlement &
integration?
Symbolic or cultural integration
Normative cultural homogeneity
Notions of ‘majority’ and ‘minority’
Functional- Social and civic integration
Residential Integration
Linguistic Integration
Labour Market Integration
Educational Integration
Civic/Political Integration
Link to Identity & Nationality
Challenges to identity and nationality

39. For Immigrants
As individuals:
Refugees
Migrant workers
Undocumented
As social groups
Integration policy and support framework
Interaction with receiving community
Length of stay in receiving country
Size of own community
Connection with origin country
Generation
Stage in immigration process
Motive for immigration
Knowledge and skills
Nature of settlement support
Connection with origin country
Challenges to identity and nationality

40. As individuals
Values and perception of identity
Experience with migrants
Socio-economic background
As social groups
Traditions of in-ward migration
Socio-economic background, cycle
Socio-political orientation
National policy and media
For receiving communities
Challenges to identity and nationality

41. Possible issues dominating discourse
in the coming years:
1) What values & approach to migration?
Management of destitution and
disadvantage
Human rights and social justice
2) What should the focus of Service delivery for
migrant communities be?
Ameliorating obstacles
Community led holistic integration
Thank you
Looking forward...