Introduction
Human migration refers to the movement of individuals from one place to another. Humans have migrated throughout the history of mankind for different reasons, some of these reasons include the intention to settle permanently or temporarily in a particular place which is regarded as offering more advantages for a better life. There are two main types of human migration; the first one is voluntary while the other type is forced migration.
Human migration also takes place at different levels which are the intercontinental level, the intracontinental level, and between the countries. This essay explores three important factors that contribute to emigrants taking permanent residence in countries that are not their original home. These factors are seeking jobs or opportunities, the effects of conflict or wars, and the need to maintain family links.
Job /Economic opportunities
A statement by Apple yard, 2001, p.6 explains that since the end of the Second World War, numerous transformations have occurred in human society. These e transformations pertain to the economic, social, and political situations of different countries and have been greatly responsible for the changing nature and composition of international migration. The industrial revolution led many individuals in Europe to move and settle in new areas that crossed the political boundaries of their home countries.
Appleyard further explains in the recent past, the pressures of globalization have led to an increased demand for skilled labor and professionals due to the integration of the world’s major economies. It is reasonable to imagine that these professionals and skilled workers move from their home countries to search for a job and better career opportunities that are not available in their home countries.
Lucas, 2008, p.2, adds that labor emigrants are known to move from their home countries to other countries where they can earn more money than in their home countries. Therefore it can be said of this category of emigrants that they move and settle in other countries because of the differences in the wages paid in foreign countries which are better when they are compared with those paid in their home country. For some, the main reason why they travel and settle in other countries is that they could be living in areas they consider to have limited opportunities to enable them to advance economically.Moving and settling in a foreign country enables them to live a more decent life
Lucas,2008,p.3 explains that the number of people who became residents of the united states had been increasing from 1981 until the year 2001. Lucas furthers notes that the greatest increase in emigrants seeking employment opportunities in the US was recorded among the temporary workers. Other individuals, especially those skilled in various fields of business, move and settle in another country so that they can be able to either start new enterprises or expand their already existing businesses. Many persons travel to Malaysia from across Asia seeking jobs and other economic opportunities as well.
The majority of the emigrants to Malaysia in the year 1997 came from Indonesia (27%), Bangladesh (23%), Nepal (22%), Vietnam (13%), and Myanmar (11%).In this year alone the estimated number of emigrants in Malaysia were 751,500 (Fair labor Association,2008, Para.8)
War/conflicts
The negative effects of armed conflict and war in different parts of the world have also strongly influenced human emigration. Communities that have been caught up in a conflict situation often move to other countries in search of peace and other opportunities that will enable them to undertake their normal daily tasks without disruption of any kind. Sirkeci, 2005, p.197, cites the situation of war in Iraq as a good example of how war and conflict can contribute to international permanent migration.
This war has caused a break in the economic and social life of the Iraqi community. The persisting hostilities between various ethnic groupings like the Kurds, Turkmen, Shiites, and Sunnis and the American forces have persisted for a long time without the war being resolved. Iraqis in turn have established strong migration networks with most of them moving and settling in the west.
Wars are known to result in deaths either intended or by accident. Either way, the loss of human life hurts the life of a community in one way or another. The death of combatants in a war could result in family members of the dead soldiers leaving and settle in another country (winter, 2006 p.162). A large number of civilian causalities in various wars is a strong compelling factor that results in people opting to settle permanently in different countries. At times when a war ends, a community may have lost the land on which they lived; this is the exact situation that has forced a great number of women and children to move from Darfur and settled in Chad (Senker, 2007, p.6).
Family links
There is an inherent need among humans to keep close contact with their kin since man is a social being. Some individuals travel to foreign countries to join their family members who have settled there to be in their company. At times, they extend their stay and may opt to settle there altogether. Akuei, 2005, p.4, explains that the UNHCR which works with refugees may relocate individuals to another country if there is enough evidence to support that their lives are in danger if they continue to live in their home country, these individuals strive very much to be reunited with their other family members and help them to get foreign citizenship in the country they have relocated to.
Chen, n.d, p.1, explains that the increasing number of cross-cultural marriages has also contributed greatly to more individuals relocating and settling in foreign countries. This comes about when one of the partners in marriage moves from their mother county to that of their partners never to return to the mother country at all, in case they do go back to their mother countries, it would be for the sole reason of checking on their friends or relatives. Chen cites the increased number of cross-cultural marriages between Taiwan and Viet Nam. About 90,000 spouses in Taiwan come from the following countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia.
Conclusion
Human migration is due to a complex of factors that compel individuals or communities to move from one pace to another. The major motivation that compels communities and individuals to migrate from one place to the other is the search for comfort and avoiding situations that bring suffering. The existence of Job opportunities, economic advancement, and close family ties create comfort for the individuals while conflict or war brings losses and suffering hence the need for people to settle in peaceful countries.
Reference List
Akuei, S.K.2005. Remittances as unforeseen burdens: the livelihoods and social obligations of Sudanese refugees. Web.
Appleyard, R. 2001. International Migration Policies: 1950-2000. International Migration, [e-journal], Volume 39, Issue 6, p.7-20. Abstract only. Web.
Chen, P.Y.n.d. Cross-Cultural Marriages between Taiwan and Vietnam Issues, Controversies and Implications. Web.
Fair labor association. 2008. Migrant workers. Web.
Lucas, R.E.B. 2008. International labor migration in a globalizing economy. Web.
Senker, C. 2007. The Debate about Immigration. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
Sirkeci,I, I. 2005. War in Iraq: Environment of Insecurity and International Migration, [e-journal],International Migration, Volume 43, Issue 4 , pp. 197-214. Web.
Winter, J.M. 2006. Remembering war: the Great War between memory and history in the twentieth century. Connecticut:Yale University Press.