Mobility, Migration and Its Discontents: Insights from Nigeria
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Date
2019-03
Authors
Attoh, F.
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Abstract
The paper interrogates the phenomenon of mobility, migration and its discontent using insights
from Nigeria. International migration is a growing phenomenon both in its range and complexity. The United
Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs estimates that there are over 214 million international
migrants worldwide representing three per cent of the global population. The growing trend is from developing
economies and countries in conflict to the developed countries of the world. The social, economic and political
underpinnings are diverse and often not manifest even though they could be linked to globalization. These
factors include the asymmetry in the international political order, demand for cheap labour in the developed
countries, ease of international transportation and availability of information technology. In addition, countries
such as Nigeria have developed strong kinship networks in Europe and America. Fundamentally, what impels
decision to migrate is not unconnected with unemployment and the need to achieve better well being. However,
migration has generated a myriad of discontent both in countries of origin and destination as many developed
countries perceive migrants as responsible for some social problems such as crime, terrorism and growing youth
unemployment. Using library resources and online materials, and anchoring the analysis on Caldwell's theory of
Intergenerational Wealth-flow and Political Economy theories, the paper avers that migrants discontent stems
from their inability to be fully integrated in host countries and given rights and opportunities to earn legitimate
livelihood. The paper concludes that Nigerians have been singled out for xenophobic attacks in countries such as
South Africa, Libya, even sold as slaves and disparaged in some other countries. Flowing from the discourse the
paper recommends the bridging of the inequality gap between countries to avoid brain drain and waste
Description
Staff Publications
Keywords
Migration , Globalization , International Political Order , Xenophobia , Asymmetry , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences