Africa is commonly regarded as a "continent on the move" in scholarly observation and mass media reportage. Movement is seen primarily in the direction of Europe. Yet the public debate is characterized by two misconceptions. The first is that high population growth in Africa would almost automatically trigger higher international migration to the neighbouring European continent. There is even talk of a "rush to Europe". The second frequently encountered misconception is that migration and flight in and from Africa is primarily a result of poverty, violent conflicts and environmental degradation. Both are misconceptions that cannot be reconciled with the facts at hand.
Author(s): Thomas Faist, Tobias Gehring, Susanne U. Schultz
Publisher: Springer VS
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 108
City: Wiesbaden
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Figures
1: Introduction: A Continent on the Move
Population Growth and Migration
Poverty: Not a Direct Driver of Migration
Historical Context of Migration
Structure of the Book
2: Migration: Drivers and Dynamics of Cross-Border Mobility
Migration Motives
Socio-economic Transformation
Dynamics of Migration
Migration as Relative Deprivation
Refugee Migration
Selected Migration Drivers: Conflicts, Environmental Degradation, Climate Change
3: Flight in Africa
Flight in Eastern and Central Africa
Flight in Southern, Western and Northern Africa
Dynamics of Migration and Flight
Migration as Initiation
Migration Processes: Turbulent and Fragmented
4: Internal Migration and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa
Demographic Change and Urbanisation
Rural-Urban and Rural-Rural Migration
Internally Displaced Persons in Africa
Improving the Situation of Internally Displaced Persons
5: Integration in Africa
Other Preconditions
Postcolonial Demarcations
Tolerance and Xenophobia in the “Rainbow Nation” South Africa
Migration Between Zimbabwe and South Africa and the South African Closed-Door Policy
Integration of Refugees? Camps vs. Local Integration
Refugee Integration: Repatriation, Resettlement and Local Integration
6: Migration and Refugee Policy in Africa
(Mass) Expulsions of Migrants and Isolation of Refugees
Uganda as a Showcase?
Self-Organisation of Deportees
7: Diaspora as Mediator Between Africa and Europe
Renaissance of the Concept of “Diaspora”
Political Participation and Democratisation
States Use Diasporas: Rights and Obligations of Emigrants
Belonging, Nationalism and State-Building
Beyond the Diaspora: Transnational Families
Diaspora and Transnational Actors: Bridge-Builders or Conflict Drivers?
8: European Interventions: On the Externalization of Migration Control
Externalisation: Attempt at Remote Control
“Marshall Plan with Africa”
Unintended Side Effects of Externalisation
Trade-Off Between Development and Migration Control
Consequences of Externalisation for Control and Remittances
Repatriation in the Context of Externalization and Militarization
9: What to Do? To Promote Mobility
Partnership in Migration Policy?
New Ways of Cooperation
Refugee Policy: Humanitarian Aid and Development
Economic Autonomy of Refugees
Political Rights for Refugees in Camps
Forward-Looking Proposals Based on Historical Experience
References
