Migration between European countries and their former colonies Proposal Essay

Topic Definition

The European region exhibited two different forms of migration patterns in the twentieth century. Within the first fifty years, Europe was involved in emigration towards the New World, while the second half of the twentieth century involved immigration patterns. According to Coleman (54), the diverse migration movements were due to a variety of factors including the termination of the Cold War, the consolidation of Germany, decolonization, wars and political suppression, and the considerable demand for low and unskilled laborers.

The current European migration patterns are due to different factors including declining populations due to the higher number of ageing people compared to young people, trafficking of immigrants, clandestine migration, and the need for skilled labor among others (Muus 36). This paper seeks to examine three key issues that influenced migration patterns between European countries and their former colonies, including asylum seeking, migration policies, and the labor requirements in settlement nations.

Issues and Questions

The three issues mentioned above will be examined in a variety of European States in the European Union (EU). The aim is to identify a history of migration, the magnitude of the migration flows, as well as, immigrant populations through an analysis of trends in the international migration towards European countries.

The first issue that will be examined is asylum seeking. This refers to the inflow of immigrants, especially in the Northwestern European countries, from problem areas across the globe. (Hansen 23) With this regard, we shall seek to answer two questions:

1. What is the proportion of asylum seekers who settled in each of the European Union countries, and which were the key destination countries?
2. Which were the primary countries of origin of asylum seekers?

The second factor affecting the migration trends in Europe is the regulatory environment. The migration policies bear varying implications for either international migration of EU citizens or non-EU citizens (Hansen 65). As such, the research questions include:

1. Which regulations influenced the freedom of movement for EU citizens based on employment or working arrangements? How did they affect the migration trends?
2. What was the nature of the admission policies for different EU member states on non-EU immigration? How did they influence migration trends?

The third element that shall be considered is the labor market. The labor patterns changed at different times within the twentieth century, with a diminishing need for unskilled labor, and a consequent rise in demand for trained workers (Joppke 278). In this regard, the research questions are:

1. How does the labor market integration of immigrants with regard to the main groups of citizenship compare? (an analysis of employment and unemployment figures for EU Member State Nationals, other EU nationals and non-EU nationals in a variety of EU member States)
2. What factors besides nationality influence the labor market integration?

Scope

The study involves a comparison of migration trends among various European Union States that were former colonial powers. Some of these states include Britain, France, Portugal, Belgium and Netherlands. The process of decolonization resulted in migration flows such as the settlement of Caribbean and Indian migrants into the UK, and settlement of North Africans like Algerians in France (Koser 94). Some of the factors that resulted in this migration pattern from their former colonies are indicated below.

Time

The timing of the migrations varied at different times based on the issues mentioned in the section above. At different times, the requirements for labor demanded for either skilled or unskilled workers. As such, the time element shows an increase in migration from former colonies when low or unskilled labor was required, compared to when skilled or trained labor was needed (EUROSTAT 16).

Geography

One of the primary factors affecting migration patterns was labor requirements. The varied surges in demand for low and unskilled labor, especially due to the ‘oil crisis’ in the 1970s, presented employment opportunities to workers who were geographically close to the region where the labor was required. For instance, North Africans easily crossed the Mediterranean Sea to provide labor to the various Northwestern European states (Koser 110).

Language

The colonization process involved the colonial powers imposing their culture to their colonies. Following decolonization, the former colonies found it easier to seek better opportunities, such as education, training and employment, from their former colonies. For instance, the UK recruited workers in its former colonies, while Sweden hired Finnish workers who were free to move in the Nordic free movement area (OECD 9).

Method

Research material used in this paper will be gathered through a mixture of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data for the qualitative approach will be obtained from international databases provided by EUROSTAT (2000) and the SOPEMI (Continuous reporting system on migration) system of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (1999).

Data on asylum seekers in various EU countries can be obtained from the UNHCR Statistics of 1999. Other research materials will be used to find previous research on the topic, and provide case studies for two notable European countries namely Germany and the United Kingdom.

References

1. Coleman, David “International migration to Europe in the late 1990s.” Immigration to Denmark: International and National Perspectives (1999): 46–104. Print.
2. “Ethnic minorities and immigrant groups on the labour market.” Employment Observatory SYSDEM Trends (1999): 32. Print.
3. EUROSTAT. Demographic Statistics: Data 1960–99. Theme 3: Population and social statistics. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1999. Print.
4. Hansen, Randall. Citizenship and Immigration in Postwar Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
5. Hansen, Randall. Migration to Europe since 1945: Its History and its Lessons. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2003. Print.
6. Joppke, Christian. “Why Liberal States accept Unwanted Immigration.” World Politics 50 (1998): 266-93. Print.
7. Koser, Khalid. “Asylum policies, trafficking and vulnerability .” International Migration: Quarterly Review 38.3 (2000): 91–111. Print.
8. Muus, Phillip. “International Migration and the European Union, trends and Consequences.” European Journal on Criminal Policy and research 9 (2001): 31–49. Print.
9. OECD. Trends in International Migration, SOPEMI Annual Report. OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Paris: OECD, 1999.
10. UNHCR. “Asylum Applications in Europe.” UNHCR Statistics (1999). Print.

Outline

1. Abstract
2. Introduction: An analysis of international migration, which refers to the movement of individuals across national borders with the view of remaining in the guest nation for a period of at least one year.
3. Literature Review: An analysis of types and trends of international migrations. This involves an analysis of reasons of migration including migration from former colonies, recruitment for temporary workers and family re-unification.
4. Methodology: An examination of research methods used to explore the three issues.
5. Discussion: Analysis of results obtained from the evaluation of the three factors identified to influence migration between European countries and their former colonies; these are asylum seeking, policy regulation, and labor requirements.
6. Conclusion: Final deductions on the migration trends in European countries.
7. Works Cited: List of references

Works Cited

Coleman, David. “International migration to Europe in the late 1990s.” Immigration to Denmark: International and National Perspectives (1999): 46–104. Print.

“Ethnic minorities and immigrant groups on the labour market.” Employment Observatory SYSDEM Trends (1999): 32. Print.

EUROSTAT. Demographic Statistics: Data 1960–99. Theme 3: Population and social statistics. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1999. Print.

Hansen, Randall. Citizenship and Immigration in Postwar Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.

Hansen, Randall. Migration to Europe since 1945: Its History and its Lessons. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2003. Print.

Joppke, Christian. “Why Liberal States accept Unwanted Immigration.” World Politics 50 (1998): 266-93. Print.

Koser, Khalid. “Asylum policies, trafficking and vulnerability .” International Migration: Quarterly Review 38.3 (2000): 91–111. Print.

Muus, Phillip. “International Migration and the European Union, trends and Consequences.” European Journal on Criminal Policy and research 9 (2001): 31–49. Print.

OECD. Trends in International Migration, SOPEMI Annual Report. OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Paris: OECD, 1999.

UNHCR. “Asylum Applications in Europe.” UNHCR Statistics (1999).