Migration

The term migration is currently present in everyday political and social life. Frequently, this term can be found in daily newspapers, debates in the Bundestag or political talks on public TV stations.

Classification

In addition to popular scientific usage, the term can also be found in various scientific fields, such as sociology, psychology and biology. In evolutionary research, a field of biology, the term plays a concise role. Here, in hominid evolution, the term migration is used to describe a migratory movement of early humans (Homo sapiens) from Africa to the various regions of the earth (cf. Campbell/ Reece 2009, 981-988).

Sociology, on the other hand, shows a broader concept of migration. Typical keywords here are, for example, labor, educational, refugee, or marriage migration, which, however, will not be explained in more detail here (cf. Hahn 2012, 148; cf. Oltmer 2010, 16 f.).

Etymology

Etymologically, the term comes from Latin (lat. migratio), which means emigration or migration (cf. Duden 2011). The origin of this term is based on ancient sources, by which emerging human migratory movements in late antiquity were designated. The reason for these migratory movements can be assumed to be the military expansion policy of the Roman Empire, as a result of which ancient peoples, such as the Visigoths, Vandals, or Suebi, felt forced to flee and carried out large migrations across Europe (cf. Burckhardt 2008, 119-122.).

In the literature, many similar definitions can be found for the term migration. A common definition is Schönpflug’s approach, which defines the term migration as follows: „Migration […] is understood as all migration phenomena of individuals or groups of different ethnic groups that serve to shift the center of life to a spatially-socially-culturally different context“ (Schönpflug 2003, 328).

Direct/indirect migration

People can be affected by migration directly or indirectly. Colloquially, these are referred to as migrants or migrant women. In science, a differentiated approach is taken to designate these people. Specific situation constellations are assumed, which are concretized on the basis of two characteristics (voluntariness and permanence). Thus, four different migration groups with a specific significance emerge.

If people migrate permanently and voluntarily to a country, they are referred to as immigrants. If, on the other hand, the constellation is temporary and voluntary, they are referred to as migrants. As a concise example in this case, the term ‚guest workers‘ can be mentioned. These are migrants who immigrated to the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1950s, primarily for economic reasons.

If, on the other hand, there is involuntariness due to war, environmental catastrophes or famine, we speak here of refugees. If people are characterized by an involuntary and temporary situation, they are referred to as asylum seekers (cf. Schönpflug 2003, 328).

Conceptual overlaps

Furthermore, the term shows strong overlaps and interactions with related terminologies. Important terms in this case are, for example, flight, diaspora or acculturation. Countries to which people preferentially immigrate are called immigration countries. They may pursue either regulated or less regulated immigration. As a rule, regulated migration is present.

A migration is thus bound to a variety of tasks and rules created by political institutions (parliaments, ministries). The resulting residence guidelines may include, for example, regulations on family reunification, the determination of the duration of residence, or even social welfare. In addition to these requirements for migrants, the state is responsible for these people when they are granted admission.

This can be expressed in the form of training, counseling, cultural services or even medical care. The state is interested in the integration of migrants into the host society in order to ensure the long-term integration of these people (cf. Schönpflug 2003, 331-333).

Stressors and discrimination

Problems often arise during this integration process. On the one hand, these can arise because of ethnicity. This problem is manifested in the discrimination of migrants by the host society. On the other hand, migration in general has a negative impact on the psychological well-being of those affected. Possible stressors include a lack of language skills in the country of emigration, homesickness and loneliness, which were identified by a study conducted by Berry in 1991 (cf. Schönpflug 2003 331-333; Berry 1992).

History of Migration in Germany

Often in media formats, such as TV and daily newspapers, migration is portrayed as an exceptional and non-regular event. However, in Mecheril’s view, this is to be denied. Germany was a country of emigration until 1890. For example, labor emigration of people from Westphalia to Holland can be noted, along with emigration to France or Switzerland.

From 1949 onwards, on the other hand, the first major immigration movements were omnipresent in post-war Germany. More than 250,000 people per year immigrated to the Federal Republic of Germany (cf. Mecheril 2007, 469 f.). The primary reason for this wave of migration was the flight or expulsion from Central and Eastern Europe of exiled Germans.

Through a recruitment agreement with states such as Italy, Greece, Turkey or Yugoslavia, the Federal Republic of Germany was able to recruit a large number of needed guest workers in the 1950s and 1960s to further push the economic upswing. During the 1990s, further migrants followed, in addition to late repatriates from Eastern Europe also war refugees of the Yugoslavian wars (cf. Worbs/ Bund/ Kohls/ von Gostomski 2013, 30-33; cf. Alscher/ Obergfell/ Roos 2015, 21-36).

Literature

Alscher, Stefan/ Obergfell, Johannes/ Ross, Stefanie R. (2015): Migration Profile Western Balkans. Causes, challenges and possible solutions. Working Paper 63. federal office for migration and refugees.

Berry, John (1992): Acculturation and adaptation in a new society. In: International Migration. Vol. 30, 1-69.

Burckhardt, Leonhard (2008): Military history of antiquity. Munich: Beck.

Campbell, Neil A./ Reece, Jane B. (2003): Biology. 6th ed. Heidelberg: Spektrum.

Duden (2011): German universal dictionary. 7th ed. Mannheim: Bibliographisches Institut.

Hahn, Sylvia (2012): Historical migration research. In: Bösch, Frank/ Epple, Angelika/ Gestrich, Andreas/ Marszolek, Inge/ Potthast, Barbara/ Rau, Susanne/ Röckelein, Hedwig/ Schwerhoff, Gerd/ Wagner-Hasel, Beate (eds.): Historical Introductions. Vol. 11. 1. Frankfurt am Main: Campus.

Mecheril, Paul (2007): Migration and integration. In: Straub, Jürgen/ Weidemann, Arne/ Weidemann, Doris (eds.): Handbuch interkulturelle Kommunikation und Kompetenz, Grundbegriffe-Theorien-Anwendungsfelder. Ulm: Metzler, 469-479.

Oltmer, Jochen (2010): Migration in the 19th and 20th centuries. In: Gall, Lothar (ed.): Encyclopedia of German History. Vol. 86. Munich: Oldenbourg.

Schönpflug, Ute (2003): Migration and integration. In: Thomas, Alexander/ Kammhuber, Stefan/ Schroll-Machl, Sylvia (eds.): Handbuch interkulturelle Kommunikation und Kooperation. Countries, cultures and intercultural professional activity. Vol. 2. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 328-341.

Schroll-Machl, Sylvia (ed.): Handbuch Interkulturelle Kommunikation und Kooperation. Countries, cultures, and intercultural professional activity. Vol. 2. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 328-339.

Worbs, Susanne/ Bund, Eva/ Kohls, Martin/ Gostomski, Christian B. von (2013): (Spät)Aussiedler in Deutschland. An analysis of current data and research findings. Research Report 20. Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.