1. Rationale for the type of action
The aim of this Action Plan is to present and describe the types of migration with particular focus on labour migration, and to present the effects and impact of emigration on the family in the socio-cultural context as well as pedagogical. The above-mentioned topic is the result of my interest, observation, and personal commitment - as a person from one of the minority groups who have been living in the Republic of Ireland for twenty years. Apart from those aspects, migration is a very complex phenomenon. It is a collection of social, economic, political, and environmental factors. Other reasons behind this particular action are meaningfulness of the phenomena and its relevance. It is also an attempt to give an input into discussion about functioning of transnational families from the perspective of transnationality. This new approach to families separated by labour migration emphasizes the importance of two features: the spatial separation of family members and the sense of community. Thus, the consequences of labour migration are not considered as a crisis, but as a new reality changing the quality of family life.
2. Research methods employed.
Method that I have used in this assignment can be described as desk research. What that means is the deep analysis of documents. At the same time, I began to work on the questions I was trying to answer. First, the general ones, then I clarified these questions in such a way as to better determine the degree of deepening of the analysis. I have primarily used existing literature, reports, statistics, information from websites, etc. I have also looked at few migration theories. Theories, where the concept of identity plays a key role in the analysis of contemporary social processes and social activities. Undeniably, the Kwame Anthony Appiah theory played a big role here. Especially his book "The ethnics of identity" (Appiah, 2007) where he explains in it how risk and trust in society has elevated the notion of identity to the position of an irreplaceable mechanism for explaining an increasingly complex social reality. Another very interesting theoretical perspective used in the deliberations on the migration phenomena, is a theory of social transnational space. Theory - presented in his book “Transnational Migration”– by Thomas Faist (Thomas Faist, 2013). Although the term itself is not new, as it was already used at the beginning of the 20th century to describe a new way of thinking about relations between cultures. Since the emergence of research on this topic in the early 1990s, they have become part of mainstream migration studies.
3. Data collection and analysis
Given the specific time frame of the assignment and considering complexity of the topic, data collection and analysis will mainly focus on a secondary source of information. Already above-mentioned reports, statistics, information from websites as well as documentary movies. I also tried to use my personal experience as a migrant and as a teacher in Polish school - where I teach Polish history and language - and deal with kids who – because of the fact they were born in a country with which they identify, and at the same time being raised Polish - trying to find their true identity. I also used my knowledge and experience gained while working at Dúchas Kilkenny as a volunteer/translator/interpreter.
4. Findings
In today's fast-paced world, we can observe a lot of interesting phenomena. (especially from the point of view of a political scientist or sociologist) Exceptionally captivating in this context are processes related to the transformation of cultural identity. One of the most significant factors causing cultural changes, including changes in cultural identity, are globalization processes and related migrations.
At this point, it is worth emphasizing briefly what type of migration I will be discussing. The term migration refers to a change of residence permanently or for a certain period. The migrations I'm discussing here are the migrations caused by the desire to improve material well-being, the so-called economic migrations. And given the factor that triggered above mentioned migrations, they can also be called voluntary migration.
The factors that encourage migration can be divided into those that encourage people to leave, those that push people out, and those that "attract", i.e., influence the choice of places of emigration. The first group includes: economic factors, high level of unemployment, poor economic situation of the country, housing and employment difficulties, demographic factors, too many inhabitants who are in the labour market, human rights violations, armed conflict, lack of prospects, political situation. On the other hand, the "attracting" factors include historical factors – the occurrence of emigrants from their own country in earlier years, economic factors – low unemployment, legal factors – low requirements for foreigners, socio-economic factor – acceptance of foreigners.
I will try to illustrate these phenomena on the example of emigrants from Poland. A group of which I am a member. Economic emigration has become an extremely common phenomenon that has further social consequences. Despite that Poles emigrate to various places in the world, one of the most frequently chosen countries by emigrating Poles are the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany. For many compatriots, the Islands are a place where they want to work, settle down, live. This place is identified with high wages, good medical care, and rich social facilities. The emigration of Poles is associated with changes in the awareness of the indigenous population about Poland and Poles.
Due to the still current wave of labour migration within the European Union countries caused, on the one hand, by the economic crisis and, on the other hand, by the opening of borders, labour markets and increased mobility of the modern family, discussion on the impact of migration on the social and personal lives of individuals seems to be particularly relevant. Some other interesting trends were observed by Eurostat: in Germany, France, Spain, Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia, the number of non-EU-born citizens increased while the number of citizens born in other EU countries decreased. In 2010, for example, 47.3 million citizens of the European Union were born outside their country of origin. Which corresponds to ten percent of the total population. It is estimated that the number of migrants in the European Union who live or work outside its country of origin amounts to 3.5 million. This figure does not include the number of irregular migrants, which suggests that the factual number is much higher. The presented data indicate the occurrence and high dynamics of migration. They point to some general trends, but they obviously do not consider the situation of individual families or their members. However, there are studies on this topic that deal with the impact of migration on family functioning. (eurostat, 2023)
Labour migration has a significant impact on the functioning of the family, but the changes taking place in it are very diverse and determined by many factors. It is important which member of the family is migrating, for how long and how far away the country of migration is. Moreover, opportunities for mutual communication and the frequency of meetings of family members are important.
That concept was described by Thomas Faist in his book “Transnational migration”. According to Faist, the mosaic of transnational space is made up of four elements: small groups, related systems, transnational communities, and international organizations. At this point, it is worth at least briefly characterizing the concept of international space. It refers to the multiplicity of bonds and interactions that bind people together despite the borders. These are: a specific type of social correlation, a type of social awareness, type of social reproduction, the path of transformation of social capital. Transnational space refers to regular and permanent social contacts that take place across the borders of nation states and include such phenomena as: visits to relatives, the movement of consumer goods, travel, non-professional visits of friends and acquaintances, etc. The reality of the transnational social space indicates, firstly, that migration and re-emigration cannot be treated as certain, irrevocable decisions. Secondly, those emigrants and refugees who have settled for a long time outside their country of origin are often in transnational communication with it. Thirdly, according to the theoreticians of the transnational community, these connections are either more informal or can be institutionalised, for example, to the form of political parties. Transnationality might be defined by the complex relations between the government of the immigrant country, the social organizations of the country of emigration, the ruling groups in the country of emigration, the social organizations of the country of emigration, and the transnational groups of the migrant. The characteristics of a transnational community are physical mobility, transfers and economic, cultural, and social. It is characterized by the functioning of migrants 'here and there', multilateral contacts, both family and, increasingly, professional, and other. The cosmopolitans are mainly economic migrants, but also artists, scientists, athletes, diplomats, and students. These are people who increasingly have dual citizenship, voting rights, property in different places. Others – only work outside their own country, which allows their families to survive, consume or invest in its development. It is, therefore, a collective process with a varied course, which entails different consequences, both for the person and for the State.
Equally interesting and at the same time complementary to Faist theory is Michael Piore's theory (Pior, 2001) of the dual labour market also focuses on the demand side of economic mobility. This theory assumes that there is a permanent shortage of labour in highly developed countries. This is because citizens of such a country do not take up many jobs due to their low pay, lack of need for higher qualifications, or finally the danger associated with their performance It assumes the creation of a division in immigrant countries into industries and positions intended for the native population and those occupied by newcomers. Such division results in social distribution of prestige and the link between work and social position. In the case of migrants, this position is lower, which is to compensate for the feeling of temporariness in exile, as well as the perception of home country environment as a reference group. Temporary nature of migration seems to create a strong differentiation between work and the social identity of the worker. This is the kind of work that migrants do. In this light, migration has a stabilising effect on the host country's economy and does not increase unemployment. Some weaknesses of this theory can be pointed out however, because in this context, it is not possible to explain migration between countries with a similar level of economic development. It also does not consider the phenomenon of highly qualified people migrating.
Migration is also a process in which not only geographical boundaries are crossed. Much more important is the reaction when we enter a different cultural world, a world of different values or norms. The need to belong, through being a member of different groups, becomes important, (formal and informal), but also in the form of citizenship within the country concerned. Migration can cause boundaries to appear solely as a reaction of one system to another. Young people migrating with their parents face an important challenge, which is to adapt to a new situation, to become a migrant by taking on new roles, in a new space using new practices, surrounded by new strangers. For school-age children, this means getting used to the country of migration primarily by starting education in a new country, school, surroundings, and new people. Thus, migration is a multifaceted event for them. It can be something wonderful, revealing that builds one's own identity, something ordinary, or a very dramatic experience. A challenge and teaching responsibility. Migration can encourage and intensify the fulfilment of some roles and the departure from others. In migration studies, identity is an important issue. This theme was touched upon in Kwame Anthony Appiah's research and in his book "The Ethics of Identity". Appiah argues that this analytical element may refer to the existing identity of the host community, which is then treated as a monolith and a certain pattern to which migrants are supposed to adapt (aspire). Such identity abounds in local references, including references to the local space, including the space of the school, the home in the destination of the country of migration. When it comes to space, there are attempts to answer the question of who one is in relation to this space. How do you operate in public space? How one perceives and gets to know oneself in space? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toBRfyVK89Y)
5. Conclusion
· The family is not a fixed, clearly defined, and unchanging group, but it is constantly evolving and transforming, moving from a traditional model to the one that is responding and adapts to the changing social reality. Currently, far-reaching changes can be observed within functioning of the family.
· The presented review of selected theories of migration clearly indicates the complexity of this phenomenon. The multifaceted and multidimensional nature of these concept makes us abandon the hope of creating a single, universal theory in which within this framework, one could be tempted to take a comprehensive approach to the problem. Rather, we can expect further modifications and attempts to develop the already classical theories and construction of new ones, which, however, are likely to be of a complementary, i.e., they will grasp the studied phenomenon in its various manifestations. In this context, it seems that the theory of transnational space is one of the more interesting research perspectives, giving hope of obtaining interesting results.
· Concepts of mobility emphasize that the detachment of people from their place of origin and becoming cosmopolitan determines research and reflection related to the relationship between man and place. They show how important place is in building human identity and identification. The experience of a place is common to mobile people, and the very act of getting used to a place is a process, so it is not automatic, but happens gradually.
· Modern research suggests that in the 21st century, migratory pressure will continue to grow. This is especially accurate in wealthy European countries. Faist argues that the modern migration is distant from the traditional pattern that very often meant the uprooting of the migrant from his or her traditional socio-cultural community. What distinguishes the modern migrations from earlier migrations is the fact that they are taking place in the context of globalisation processes. Globalisation, on the other hand, is a very complex concept and challenging to define. There is no compromise among scholars, whether the term covers a single trend or several diverse processes that share common features.
Bibliography
Appiah, K. A. (2007). The ethnics of identity.
eurostat. (2023, 11 09). Retrieved from eurostat: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Migration_and_migrant_population_statistics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toBRfyVK89Y (n.d.). [Motion Picture].
Pior, M. (2001). The Dual Labor Market: Theory and Implications. In M. Pior, Social Stratification, Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective (p. 4). Routledge.
Thomas Faist, M. F. (2013). Transnstional Migration. Malden US: John Wiley & Sons.