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After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. Meaning of International Migration 2. Streams of International Migration 3. Factors Responsible.
Meaning of International Migration:
When people move from one country to another country for permanent settlement, it is called external migration or international migration. In many countries like America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Latin America, out of the total increase in population there has been a greater contribution of international migration.
International migration is as old as human civilisation. Famine, victory in war and other factors play an important role in international migration, details of which may not be known exactly due to the lack of complete information on this count.
Streams of International Migration:
In the beginning from Britain and later from Germany, Scandinavia, etc., the Europeans in large number crossed the Atlantic Ocean for permanent settlement in America. America was considered a country of vast resources and new technology and people moved to that country to try their luck for material prosperity.
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The second noteworthy stream of migration was from South Europe and East Europe to settle in Latin America. People from Europe also migrated to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The Chinese and Indians played an important role in Asian migration. People who migrated from India were mainly labourers who moved to Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaya, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius and British Guiana in search of jobs in rubber, tea, coffee, and sugarcane plantations.
The most important migration of population in Asia was due to the Partition of India in 1947. According to an estimate, nearly 72 lakh people migrated to Pakistan from India and almost the same number migrated from Pakistan to India.
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In the history of international migration, the migration of Israel is a noteworthy event, wherein for a number of years people migrated in lakhs. During May 1948 to December 1951, the population of this new nation was 6.5 to 6.8 lakh which was more than double the original population. In no country of the world, migration of such a huge size has taken place so rapidly.
Factors which Lead to International Migration:
In world history, international migration is a very important event taking place through which big nations like U.S.A. have been created. People from European countries have migrated to U.S.A. in large numbers. Similarly, in many other countries of the world, international migration has played a pivotal role in the process of development.
The following factors lead to international migration:
1. Economic Condition:
The population living in the area where natural resources are not enough and the agricultural land yield is low, people move from one place to another. Besides, many a time when industries do not get sufficient raw materials or when the demand for labour decreases due to the mechanisation process, labour migrates from one country to another to imporve its economic condition.
2. Climatic Condition:
On a global scale, climatic condition is very important for healthy living. People migrate from the place of atmospheric pollution to a place with better climatic condition. People also migrate from a place where frequent earthquakes or floods take place. Another factor responsible for migration is the use and discharge of harmful chemicals by industries. This adversely affects the health of surrounding population, which leads to migration.
3. Social and Cultural Factors:
In traditional societies, social and cultural factors are responsible for international migration. People migrate to those places where they find favourable social conditions and stable values, which provide security to life and reduce conflicts. People do not like to live in those places where social conflicts exist which lead to loss of jobs, strikes, agitations, riots, etc.
4. Religious Factors:
Religious values are important for migration. When there is domination of religious sentiments, people migrate to that place where they find their own religion. Sikhs will migrate to a place where they find a Gurudwara while we find more Buddhists in Nepal and in northern parts of India.
Muslims migrate mostly to Arab countries where they find similar religious atmosphere. Therefore, to gain religious peace and spiritual solace people migrate from one country to another.
5. Industrialisation:
Industrialisation also affects the life of a citizen. Due to industrialisation we find many industrial complexes which give rise to housing as well as shopping complexes, big markets and big business centres. These attract professionals, skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled workers who are in need of attractive jobs.
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In U.S.A. there were 1.3 million people of Indian origin. Besides, out of 72.3 percent total work force, 43.6 percent were employed in managerial and professional specialities, 33.2 percent in technical, sales and administrative support occupations, 23.3 percent in other areas like Operation, Fabrication, Labourers and Precesion Production.
6. Political Factors:
In a country where people do not find politically peaceful atmosphere, they leave that country. After the Gulf War and the ensuing UN sanctions, the Indian community in Iraq was reduced from seventy thousand in 1970 to only eighty in 1996. Similarly, in a country where its government fails to maintain law and order, people migrate from that place and settle in those countries where they find politically stable environment.
7. Demographic Factors:
In a country where there are less medical facilities, low literacy rate, less availability of basic amenities, high density of population, high unemployment rate, high death rate compared to birth rate, etc., people will migrate to more advanced countries where they find better job opportunities and socio-economic conditions.
8. Agriculture-Based Economy:
The low income countries are mostly agriculture-oriented. Many labourers are not fully employed. In peak agricultural seasons, they work for long hours. But otherwise the labour force becomes idle. Labour force coming from poor households cannot afford to remain without employment.
In less developed countries, population seeking work cannot find employment of their choice. Such labour force migrates from one country to another, mostly to developed countries. This has happened in the case of farmers migrating to Canada in the early 20th century from Punjab.
9. Increase in Skills and Capabilities:
In an economy, the key to economic progress is the increasing skills and capabilities of its labour force. In increasingly integrated and technologically advanced high-income countries, the ratio of investment in human capital is high and therefore the living standards of people are also high.
Due to high capital investment in developed countries, we find more employment opportunities, high labour productivity and high earning capacity. Students from developing countries go to such countries for higher education and training in order to increase their skills and capabilities. Later on, many find jobs, migrate and settle in developed countries.