The first chapter of The Age of Migration grants us an introductory look at the issue of immigration and migration in the past and modern day. It seems as though migration has increased in the recent decades. This may be due to conflict in the home land or a desire to find better opportunity in a time of economic distress. I found it interesting the correlation made that an increase in migration usually coincides with economic issues on the global scale. People try to look for better jobs elsewhere, which is an understandable need, yet those in the countries they migrate to already are worried about the uncertainty of the economic sphere and tend to blame immigrants or want to keep them out as they could "Take our jobs." It seems to be a common theme all over the world. It is definitely one I see in the US as often times the major argument for keeping people out in the past has been a strain on resources and a fear that jobs will be taken away by these migrant workers.
I also found it interesting how it discussed the fear the some countries have of losing a national identity, In a sense, that is not so present here in the United States. People more say things along the line of "protecting those who are already here" but we are a country of immigrants so our national cultural identity has always been mixed. I think only recently, with the induction of our new president, has there been an idea of keeping a sort of identity and certain ethnicities out. Truthfully, that idea may have always been there, but now its more prominent then ever. Still, it seems like in other countries that are more homogenous, the idea of cultural identity seems to be very strong, and that European cultures specifically push for integration. I can definitely see how in homogenous countries, the entry of a different culture can threaten what was held as an identity and unity within the country. This chapter poses an interesting question of the state of global migration There seems to be more movement between countries than ever. Nation State do maintain their identity but will it maintain that identity in the same way in the future. I believe that more places are becoming more and more mixed as people venture outside their homeland in search of safety or opportunity. True, as the chapter pointed, the large majority of people stay in the country they were born in, but things are changing, and I'm wondering now how national councils like the UN and other organizations will now factor in as a more global identification.
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An eye-opening tripI believe this trip truly gave me an opportunity to see how the stories that are told in political areans have (or don't have) an affect on ouublic perception and actions... this was something I was eager to expand on going forward Archives
August 2017
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