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
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Staff Publications
Keywords
Migration , Globalization , International Political Order , Xenophobia , Asymmetry , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences
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