(...) While Western economists and politicians discuss whether more or less migration benefits their countries, the other side of the medal, namely the impact of massive labour outflows on sending communities, is seldom devoted much attention (...). Every migrant that leaves an African country for another or for a destination off the continent takes valuable labour and economic potential away from
the sending community. This questions in how far vulnerable states will invest in education and youth employment when they see the return on their investments wander to new shores. Moreover, traditional ways of life are questioned when a great part of the young population departs and leaves the less mobile to care for themselves.
Failing and failed states are today to a great extent kept alive by remittances from migrants abroad. On the one hand, this might be the only way that people who stayed can survive in a war-torn economy but on the other hand it might also ease the population’s deception with dictatorships and incapable political leaders and therefore impede necessary social uproar. (...).
Many of these specifics impacts of the African migration flows on the sendingn communities will be illuminated in the following (...). Various theoretical approaches will be compared to outline the inherently different approximations towards migration by neoclassical economics compared with the critical dependency theory to find feasible policy recommendations (...)
This paper follows the assumption that migration has overall positive effects and benefits for developed countries as well as some developing economies. The crucial point is nonetheless the fact that these benefits are not equally allocated. Positive effects on areas of limited statehood have to be questioned to a great extent as functioning institutions are lacking which inhibit diaspora investments in national development (...)
Policy recommendations should not be focused on impeding migrants to work or educate themselves abroad but should concentrate on easing the return of citizens to support the development of the sending communities e.g. through easer passage within African regions. Moreover, foreign aid has to be channelled in a way that it benefits institution building , creates investment opportunities, promotes return migration and generates employment possibilities to lower migration push factors.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Characteristics of Migration in and from Sub-Saharan Africa
3. Areas of Limited Statehood and Migration
3.1 Theoretical Approaches Towards Limited Statehood
3.2 Migration Theory and Reasons for Migration
4. Areas of Limited Statehood as Sending Communities
4.1 Brain Drain – The Problem of the Knowledge Exodus
4.2 Remittances as a Primary Revenue Source
4.3 Involuntary Migration and Human Trafficking
4.4 Changes in the Social Structure and the Problem of Return Migration
5. Areas of Limited Statehood as Receiving Communities
5.1 Migration to or Within Areas of Limited Statehood
5.2 The Problem of Refugees
6. Conclusion: The Need for a New Policy Approach
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the dual impact of migration on areas of limited statehood in Sub-Saharan Africa, analyzing how migration processes both pose risks and offer potential development benefits to fragile states. The primary research focus lies in evaluating whether existing state institutions can effectively manage these flows or if they inadvertently perpetuate cycles of dependency and instability.
- The impact of "brain drain" and the loss of qualified human capital.
- The role of remittances as a private financial substitute for deficient public services.
- The dynamics of involuntary migration and systemic human trafficking.
- The socio-structural consequences of migration on traditional family and gender roles.
- The challenges faced by receiving communities and the complex burden of refugee integration.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Brain Drain – The Problem of the Knowledge Exodus
The most pronounced negative effect of migration on sending communities is the so-called brain-drain, the outflow of highly qualified human capital. Limited educational and professional opportunities, inadequate facilities and low salaries encourage young professionals to work abroad instead of fostering the development of their regions of origin. Data on professional emigration is rare but Adepoju predicts that 23,000 university graduates turn their back on Africa every year. 40,000 African Ph.D. holders are estimated to currently work abroad. A 1999 IMF study concludes that the better educated an African population proportion is, the more likely it is to emigrate. Furthermore the study points out that African immigrants in the United States are generally better educated than the average fellow countryman at home. In some countries over 60% of those leaving for the United States have tertiary education (see chart). The situation in the health sector is especially problematic. The UN estimates that Africa will have to train 1,000,000 additional health professionals over the next decade but many African governments seem reluctant to invest more in education as they are likely to lose their costly trained personnel to foreign markets. The protest is pronounced harshly by many officials against foreign recruiters that staff OECD countries’ health systems while many African states are not able to provide basic services in more remote areas. Moreover, higher education teachers are scarce endangering adequate training for young professionals.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses the global discourse on migration and defines the central challenge of assessing its impact on vulnerable, limited statehood environments in Africa.
2. Characteristics of Migration in and from Sub-Saharan Africa: Outlines the patterns and demographics of migration, distinguishing between internal, continental, and international flows.
3. Areas of Limited Statehood and Migration: Provides a theoretical framework for defining "limited statehood" and analyzes the economic migration theories relevant to the region.
4. Areas of Limited Statehood as Sending Communities: Investigates the negative and positive impacts of labor outflows, including brain drain, remittances, and social structural changes.
5. Areas of Limited Statehood as Receiving Communities: Examines the strain on receiving regions caused by immigration and the specific humanitarian crisis of refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa.
6. Conclusion: The Need for a New Policy Approach: Summarizes findings and advocates for improved governance and regional policy integration rather than just focusing on aid or migration control.
Keywords
Sub-Saharan Africa, limited statehood, migration, brain drain, remittances, human trafficking, fragile states, return migration, governance, development aid, refugee crisis, socio-structural change, labor markets, institutional building, political stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper examines the multifaceted impact of migration—both voluntary and involuntary—on areas of limited statehood in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically how migration affects the development of these fragile states.
What are the central themes explored?
Key themes include the brain drain of professional personnel, the economic role of remittances, the challenges of human trafficking, the demographic and social shifts within sending communities, and the strain on receiving areas.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The objective is to move beyond simple economic interpretations of migration and to assess how limited statehood affects the outcomes of migration, aiming to provide realistic policy recommendations.
Which scientific approaches are applied?
The work utilizes a combination of neoclassical economic theory, the "New Economics of Migration," and critical dependency theory to analyze push and pull factors.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the characteristics of African migration patterns, theoretical definitions of limited statehood, specific impacts on sending versus receiving communities, and the unique problems regarding the refugee population.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Core keywords include Sub-Saharan Africa, limited statehood, brain drain, remittances, and governance.
Why is "limited statehood" a critical factor in this migration analysis?
Limited statehood implies that institutions are unable to provide basic public goods or security, which exacerbates the negative impacts of migration, such as the inability to retain or attract back skilled professionals.
How do remittances influence national development?
While remittances provide essential income for private households, they are often not invested in national infrastructure or development because of a lack of trust in corrupt or inefficient state institutions.
What role does regional policy play in addressing migration?
The paper argues that regional initiatives, such as those by ECOWAS, are essential for harmonizing migration policies and facilitating legal, circular, and return migration.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Janine Schildt (Autor:in), 2008, The Impact of Migration on Areas of Limited Statehood in Sub-Sahara Africa, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/159978
