The transnational networks generate the arrival of foreigners with no previous ties. The globalization of migration is generated by the interdependence of political and economic crises, and the emergence of global issues. The global migration governance projects a new paradigm based on making mobility an essential factor in human development. The fading of categories that served in the past for analyzing migration, this means, the diversification of the migrant profile, contributes to a new pattern.
The fall of the berlin wall, the generalization of the use of passports, the new media, the mentioned migratory network and the lack of hope in developing countries transformed the stereotype of the migrant as the male-rural-young-low-skilled-workers were replaced by highly qualified urban elites, woman, unaccompanied minors, senior inmigrants, asylum seekers, and the undocumented.
The shifting of migrant categories is one of the principal conflicts the doctrinaires and researchers deal with when they want to specify different types of migrants. Refugees, migrant workers, students, people applying for family reunification, and the undocumented immigrants, since the migratory circulation of 1990, can not be well differentiated- individuals usually belong to many categories.
Europe- the number one destination for migrants in the world followed by the United States- had "temporary migrants", which became "established migrants" when states decided to close their borders and they couldn't go out. Governments thought that the more borders close, the more economy prospers.
Linguistic factors, migrants related to a colonial past, geographical proximity, geopolitical realities, transnational networks, and quasi-diasporic links include the areas of influence of the people that want to leave their home country to a hosting one. The latter, support- since the 1990s- "co-development", initiatives towards their counties of origin with development association. In relation to this, inmigration can be seen as a "win-win" thanks to the "brain-drain", now considered a source of economic strength which forms poles of development in hosting countries.
Development, the promotion of social change that allows people to achieve their human potential, was considered to put an end to migration. This idea finished with the end of dictatorial governments, the accession to the European Union, and the Economic Boom, which created a dependency between development and migration: the first one generates the second, and vice versa. The main factor of migration is the difference in human development indices (life expectancy, level of education and standard of living), and at the same time, human development generates fund transfers. 420 billion dollars are sent by migrants to home countries. Naturally, as long as home countries continue to depend on fund transfers from hosting countries, the "migration spiral" will keep growing.
By Micaela Seidman
Micaela Seidman is a 21-year-old-student from Buenos Aires, Argentina who is currently studying a Law Degree at the University of San Isidro. She is working at the Buenos Aires City Government. She is the CEO and Founder of Consilium Worldwide.
