Migration refers to the movement of people between locations. There are multiple causes and consequences of migration. Anthropologists study migration through multi-sited research considering both macro-level global factors and micro-level local issues. Migration can be categorized based on spatial boundaries as internal, international, or transnational migration, or based on reasons for moving such as labor, being displaced, or institutional migration. Environmental issues like climate change are also a growing cause of migration as some communities are the first to suffer consequences like rising sea levels or disappearing glaciers.

1. Migration

2. Migration: What Is It?
• Migration is
–The movement of a person or people
from one place to another
• Multiple causes
• Multiple consequences

3. Anthropological Study of Migration
• A challenge to traditional anthropological
work
• Multi-sited research often necessary
• Macro-micro factors
– Local versus global issues
• Categories of migration
– Based on geography
– Based on reason(s) for moving

4. Categories of Migration Based on
Spatial Boundaries
• Internal migration
• International migration
• Transnational migration

5. Internal Migration
• Rural-to-urban is the dominant form
• Push-pull theory:
– little opportunity at home in rural sector
– perceived quality-of-life factors, “rational
choice” that more options exist in the city
– concepts of where a better life can be achieved

6. International Migration
• Growing since 1945
• Work-related reasons important for
voluntary migrants
• Increasing involuntary international
migrants
– E.g. refugees from political violence, trafficked
persons
• Major political issue among nations
receiving refugees

7. Transnational Migration
• Where a person regularly moves back and
forth between two or more countries
• Often motivated by economic factors
• Importance of remittances: money sent
back to home country

8. Categories of Migration Based on
Reason for Moving
• Labor migrants
• Displaced persons
• Institutional migrants

9. Labor Migrants
• Wage labor migration
– Work period brief, no permanent residence
• Entrepreneurial migration
– Migrants moving to set up businesses and trade
– Has been occurring for centuries
• Professional migration
– Highly trained immigrants seeking jobs in more
developed countries
– “Brain drains” in less developed countries

10. Displaced Persons or
Involuntary Migrants
• Refugees: largest group of migrants
worldwide
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs)

11. Refugees
• A large/growing category of displaced
persons
• International displacement
• Roughly one of every 500 people in the
world
• Majority are women/children
• Causes: war, conflict, climate change
• Major political issue

12. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
• Fastest-growing category of displaced
people
• Over 20 million people today
• Africa has the most IDPs
• Causes:
– Political violence
– Development projects (Development Induced
Displacement or DIDs) such as dams, roads,
other public works

13. Institutional Migrants
• People who move into a social institution
– Voluntary: e.g. going away to school, joining
the military
– Involuntary: e.g. going to jail, moving into a
retirement home
– Both have issues of adjustment to the new
cultural system

14. Environment and Migration
• Global environmental issues:
– Climate change
• Politically contested, scientifically accepted
– Indigenous, small-scale, marginalized societies
often the first to suffer consequences
• Rising sea levels in Kiribati, Island in Pacific; island
nation literally disappearing
• Glacier melt in Bolivia: source of water for indigenous
communities disappearing
– Migration is the cost of climate change in many
places worldwide, will only grow