Theories, History and Civilizational Aspects of Migration

Migrations are an integral part of human history. From prehistoric times to the present day, people have moved for various reasons, such as searching for food, survival, wars, natural disasters and economic opportunities. Large migration flows were recorded during the colonial era, when Europeans migrated to other continents, and during the industrial revolution, which prompted crowds to seek work in industrial cities. The course discusses these migrations through the lens of migration theories. Migration theories attempt to explain the motivations and causes of people's movements. Classical economic theory focuses on economic inequalities between countries, assuming that migrants seek better working and living conditions. Push-pull theory refers to the factors that push people to leave their countries (e.g., poverty, war) and the factors that attract them to new countries (e.g., economic opportunities, security). Finally, world-systems theory links migration to international economic and political inequalities, arguing that economic exploitation in developing countries pushes people to migrate to developed countries.