Migration and Development: the history of a concept

‘Traditional’ narratives Governments analysis People migrate because they are poor Poverty is overwhelming, or Poverty is entrenched, and will take time to eradicate NGOs / academic analysis People migrate because they are poor Border controls unlikely to work Migration reflects demand for cheap workers within capitalist system Migrants are exploited Governments conclusions Border controls need to be strengthened Reducing poverty may help reduce pressure to migrate NGOs / academic conclusions Genuine development needed to prevent people being forced to migrate or Open borders required

The ‘traditional’ coalition Shared (in part) analysis of the causes of migration – poverty Driven by analysis of migration and development linkage from northern perspective – immigration agencies, (some) migrant support groups, northern academics Represented instrumental coalition around reducing migration and/or exploitation of migrants Tacit support of ‘development’ agencies, who –Accepted that migration was driven by poverty –Saw migration as making poverty worse –Held an overarching objective to end poverty –Saw an opportunity to lever ‘migration’ funding to end poverty

Changed circumstances in the north –Improved economy, increased demand for migrant workers –European enlargement – a huge move towards ‘free movement’ –Rise of centre-left parties –Rising budgets for international development Realisation that reducing poverty won’t stop migration –Migrants are not the poorest –The ‘migration hump’ hypothesis Realisation that poor people can become less poor, if they migrate –Evidence from village studies on ‘sustainable livelihoods’ –Evidence of global value of migrants’ remittances –Parallels with debates on trade What has changed?

The ‘new’ narrative Migration can promote development (under certain circumstances) Need to promote and ‘lever’ remittances Need to address ‘brain drain’, and/or promote ‘brain gain’ Value of ‘migration management’ – necessity for legal channels for (circular) migration designed to maximise ‘development impact’ whilst minimising ‘immigration problems’ Focus on development potential of the ‘diaspora’ But.... Continued concern to limit and control migration New fears about security Criticism from some migrants’ rights activists Frailty in face of economic crisis

The ‘new’ narrative: some recent examples United Nations –2005: Report of the Global Commission on International Migration – Migration in an Interconnected World –2006: Report of the Secretary-General - International Migration and Development World Bank –2006: Global Economic Prospects – Economic implications of remittances and migration European Commission –2005: Communication on Migration and Development – and development of ‘Mobility partnerships’ UK –2004: House of Commons Report – Migration and development: how to make migration work for poverty reduction –2007: Policy Paper – Moving Out of Poverty

Some key issues How real or hegemonic were these ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ migration and development narratives? What has caused narratives to change? Which institutions and actors have pioneered change, and where has there been most resistance?