Chair: Anil Duman
Global migration and development: Myths and facts
Abstract: Conventional thinking on international migration is guided by false assumption about the nature and causes of migration. These assumptions include that we live in an age of unprecedented migration, poverty is the main cause of South-North migration and that development will reduce migration. These “migration myths” also explain that restrictive migration policies often fail and have various perverse, counterproductive effects. Based on recent research, Hein de Haas will argue that migration needs to be seen as an intrinsic part of broader development processes rather than a problem to be solved, and will outline the policy implications of these state-of-the-art insights.
Bio: Hein de Haas is a Senior Research fellow at the International Migration Institute (IMI) of the University of Oxford. His research focuses on the links between migration and processes of development and globalisation. He did extensive fieldwork in the Middle East and North Africa and, particularly, Morocco. He has published widely on issues including migration theory, migration determinants, migration and development, migration policies, migration from Africa to Europe and rural development issues. He also maintains a website (www.heindehaas.com) and a blog (heindehaas.blogspot.com) where he comments on current migration and North African issues.