English Unlimited HAK/HUM 4/5, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM (mit Handelskorrespondenz)

11 Immigration and diversity 01 LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPLORE EXTRAS Read the first part of a report on immigration from the website of a European think tank and answer the following questions. 1 What are the reasons for people migrating? 2 What is the difference between emigration in the past and nowadays? 3 What factors are decisive for a successful integration of immigrants? 4 Why is it important to integrate the children and grandchildren of immigrants? 9 http://www.mobility.com Migration, i mmigration, em igration The majority of migrants are neither adventurers nor welfare scroungers or profiteers after economic gains; nor are they necessarily the poorest of the poor. The decision to emigrate and leave one’s home country and, often, one’s family, is not easy; it requires courage, desperation or both. Most migration takes place within countries – from country to town, agriculture to industry – rather than between countries. International migrants – people who have lived outside their home countries for a year or more – account for no more than 3% of the world population. A much larger and faster growing group are those who move temporarily, either to study or work abroad or as tourists. Why do people move? Push and pull factors  People move in search of security and freedom, away from political or religious persecution, natural catastrophes, war or corruption. An example of this was the brain drain from Germany and Austria when Jewish scientists fled from persecuction in the 1930s.  They hope for better lives and chances for their children.  They seek economic gains. The wages paid for the same work in different parts of the world differ much more than the prices of goods, for example. The higher the income disparity between two countries or regions, the stronger the incentive to migrate.  An existing network of family or friends in the country of destination makes the decision to leave easier. Certain nationalities cluster in certain countries or areas, like e.g. Chinese immigrants in the Toronto and Vancouver areas of Canada or the large influx of Algerians into France, a phenomenon known as ‘ demographic balkanisation ’. Settling in / integration Due to modern means of transport and communication, today’s migrants are able to keep strong links to their countries of origin , making emigration no longer as irrevocable as it used to be. The question of integration – settling into a new culture – is equally ambiguous. Often participating in both cultures and cultivating both their mother tongue and the language spoken in the host country, modern migrants are considered ‘transmigrants’ by demographics experts who describe them as ‘ transnational identities’. Border areas where people commute between countries – e.g. the border region between Austria, Slovakia and Hungary – are referred to as ‘transnational spaces’. As soon as people are ready to sever the link with their country of origin and settle in their country of choice for good, integration becomes an issue. There is wide consensus that the key to economic and social integration is language. Mastering the language of the host country undoubtedly boosts the earning power of immigrants. The second most important factor is education and schooling, which is the touchstone for the integration of second- and third-generation immigrants . The better educated and skilled the immigrant parents are, and the higher their linguistic competence in the language spoken in the host country, the better the scholastic performance and, later, the employment opportunities of their offspring. Future generations With unemployment, petty crime and religious fundamentalism on the rise among second-generation immigrants – and with right-wing political groups playing on the fears of the native population – the integration of immigrants’ children and grandchildren will be the biggest challenge of future policies. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verl gs öbv