Discovering Diversity An integrative approach to the history of migrants Educational Material: Case Study

Transcription

1 Discovering Diversity An integrative approach to the history of migrants Educational Material: Case Study This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the Anna Lindh Foundation. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of EUROCLIO and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Anna Lindh Foundation

2 Post-colonial migration from North Africa Irregular Greenhouse Workers, Las Norias, Almería, Spain, 2003 During the 50 s and 60 s Europe was badly in need of migrants to work. Therefore, European governments used recruit migrants from North Africa and other countries and host their families. During the seventies, more migrants moved to Europe to look for a better life and most of them settled down over there in a legal way. In the eighties and nineties, European countries started imposing strict measures on migration to Europe according to 1985 Shengen Treaty. Getting a visa, therefore, became very difficult to obtain. Therefore, many people and mainly youth began searching other means to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. They started crossing the sea illegally because of social and economic problems in their countries. As a result, a lot of people risked their lives. Many of them died. Moreover, sub-saharan young adults including very young women followed suit by crossing North African boarders to reach Europe.

3 Context

4 Migration within the Mediterranean basin is a longestablished phenomenon with deep historical and socio-political implications. For some time now, the Mediterranean has been characterized as Europe's "Rio Grande." Like the famous river that many poor Mexicans cross to reach the wealthy United States, the Mediterranean Sea divides prosperous aging Europe from a highly populated, youthful, and economically underdeveloped North Africa. Martin Baldwin-Edwards, The Changing Mosaic of Mediterranean Migrations (Athens 2004)

5 Who was involved? During the fifties and sixties most migrants who moved from countries of the South towards the Europe in a legal way were young adults aged between 20 and 35. In the nineties, more and more younger people started embarking on the illegal trips. Their age ranges between 13 and 45. Even pregnant ladies and children have been involved. Migrants are from north Africa and different sub-saharan countries. In the host country, you can identify those who moved legally and five categories of illegal migrants: 1. Persons entering the host country and do not adjust their status. 2. People who enter illegally and extend their stay. 3. Persons residing illegally and working illegally. 4. Persons residing legally and working illegally. 5. People accompanying migrants living by illegal means.

6 What kind of world did they go to? Legal and illegal migrants go to Europe, which is considered by African countries a wealthy and democratic continent. Europe is a paradise for potential migrants who may risk their lives on those trips that become known as Lahrig. Spain, France, Holland, and Belgium are among the favorite destinations. Migrants dream of getting a job easily, earning much higher wages than in their home countries. Moreover, for the migrants, being and working in Europe is a sign of success. They show off in front of their families, neighbors and friends that they are living a better life. Their families, too, are also proud of them in their home countries and are sometimes eager to export members of the same family to Europe. Moroccan Lady and Mercedes, Mediterranean Highway, 16 August 2005 The Mercedes is a car much favoured as a status symbol by North African migrants. For the drive back home, cars are loaded to their full capacity with family members, provisions, possessions, gifts, and merchandise to sell.

7 Who moved? Legal and Illegal migrants from Africa and sub Saharan countries came to Europe. Southern Europe is all-too familiar with irregular migration from North African countries such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Since the early 1990s, thousands of North Africans have attempted to cross the Mediterranean to reach Spain and Italy. But, as the migration crises in Morocco's Spanish enclaves in 2005 and Spain's Canary Islands in 2006 made clear, sub-saharan Africans are increasingly migrating to North African countries, with some using the region as a point of transit to Europe and some remaining in North Africa. These migrants come from an increasingly diverse array of countries and regions, such as Senegal, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Côte d'ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and even Asia.

8 What kind of world did they come from? Most legal and illegal migrants come from North African countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Recently more and more migrants started travelling from sub-saharan countries and north African countries such as Morocco has become not only a country of transit but of residence to a number of illegal migrants; in the context of what is known as migration South - South, which appeared as a way to overcome the constraints of social living in these migrants in their home countries. According to various reports, the number of illegal migrants continues to increase for the last two decades. These migrants from sub-sahara Africa have been trying to get to Europe, via Morocco and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Mellila. While trying to cross into Spanish territory they were arrested by the Moroccans.

9 Where did they move? This map depicts the different routes taken from sub Saharan migrants. All the routes aim for the North African countries from where the migrants try to reach the European peninsula by crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

10 When did they move? Although the recent economic migration from northern Africa to Europe started only in the 1950s, there have been migration currents in this region for centuries. Throughout known history, there has been intensive population mobility between both sides of the Sahara through the trans-saharan (caravan) trade, conquest, pilgrimage, and religious education. The Sahara itself is a huge transition zone, and the diverse ethnic composition of oases testifies to this long history of population mobility. It was only with the advent of colonialism, which drew borders where there had been none and created modern states, that trans-saharan mobility and trade collapsed. However, soon after independence, the foundations were laid for the contemporary trans-saharan migration system. Tuareg Rider in Niger In the 1970s and 1980s, forced and voluntary settlement of nomads, wars in the Sahel, and droughts provoked two types of mobility. First, impoverished (former) nomads and traders, such as the Tuareg, started migrating to work at construction sites and the oil fields of southern Algeria and Libya. Second, with recurrent warfare in the entire Sahel zone, thousands of refugees settled in towns and cities in Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, and Egypt.

11 Timeline of legal and illegal migration from Africa to Europe from the 50s to now 1950s Europe needed labor 1960s of many African countries 1962 One million refugee fled to after s independence 1970s Acceleration of immigration from African countries toeurope 1980s African countries started suffering from drought 1985 the Schengen Treaty 1990 The number of illegal migration started to increase dramatically due to poverty and drought in 2000 to now Strict measures have been taken by to reduce legal migration and stop illegal one. Passage des Folies Bergères, Marseille Moroccan Migrants, Las Norias, Almería, Spain, 2004 Moroccan Immigrants in the doorway of the abandoned cemetery where they live. Some of the inhabitants have already been there for more than two years and some even have residence permits. In the background is a greenhouse where some of the occupants work.

12 The main destination was and still is Europe, mainly Spain, France, Holland and Belgium According to estimates of the Migration Policy Institute, there are some seven to eight million irregular African immigrants living in the EU, mostly in its Southern parts. The actual number fluctuates in accordance with the regularisation programs of member states, notably of France, and more recently of Italy and Spain. However, many of the officially recognized migrants fall back into illegality when their limited visas expire or if they fail to meet other conditions for recognizing their legal status. West Africans constitute by far the largest share of SSA migrants in Europe. They came mostly from Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal (see figure 1). In general, Francophone Africans are more likely to migrate to France because of its special socio cultural post colonial relations with its former colonies and due to the language problem, whereas Anglophone Africans, notably Ghanaians and Nigerians showed more flexibility in selecting their destination. Migrant Agricultural Worker, Las Norias, Almería, Spain, 2003 A worker beating the whitewash off a greenhouse roof in preparation for the cooler autumn months

13 France (Inflow of third-country nationals by country of nationality, 2000 to 2004 ) Country of Nationality All countries 91, , , , ,033 Africa (total) 54,133 63,275 78,585 89,644 90,250 Algeria 12,419 15,084 23,322 28,295 27,629 Cameroon 1,849 2,416 2,777 3,337 3,987 Comoros 924 1,091 1,031 1, Congo 1,752 2,269 3,235 3,699 4,104 Congo, Democratic Republic of 1,108 1,399 1,711 1,657 1,681 Côte d'ivoire 1,772 2,185 2,654 3,294 3,924 Madagascar 1,523 1,666 1,862 1,939 1,861 Mali 1,537 1,682 1,836 2,474 2,476 Mauritania ,176 1,052 Morocco 17,359 19,117 21,732 22,516 22,176 Senegal 1,951 2,227 2,377 2,562 2,505 Tunisia 5,588 6,578 7,744 9,417 8,766 Other Africa 5,922 7,025 7,510 8,197 9,104 SOURCE: "Immigration and the presence of foreign population in France in 2004" by Corinne Regnard. Ministry of employment and social cohesion. (see

14 Why did they move?

15 People migrated for different reasons: Apart from push factors, like violent conflicts, gross human rights violations, population pressure, degradation of natural resources, and poverty, the major part of current migration is due to external pull factors. Notably young people, threatened by unemployment and lack of perspectives in their home country, are eager to try their luck in what may appear to them at first sight as their El Dorado, i. e. Western Europe. Many of them struggle to reach it, in utter disregard of the involved risks, by all means, mostly illegally. But let there be no misunderstanding, the extreme African poor do not even dispose of this alternative, as migration to overseas destinations involves considerable cost, which can be covered in many cases only with contributions by the extended family (e. g. 800 to 1,200 per person for the transit from the Senegalese coast to the Canary Islands), good health condition, a minimum amount of risk tolerance, and embedded ness in viable trans national social networks. To look for a better life. Poverty, unemployment and feeling marginalized in their home country. They are also fascinated by the life in Europe. Dirk Kohnert, African Migration to Europe: Obscured Responsibilities and Common Misconceptions (Leipzig 2007) 7.

16 African Migration Sub-Saharan illegal migrants constitutes the biggest part in the export of migration towards north Morocco passing through Mali, Cameroon, and Senegal, due to their proximity to Morocco, and because of the difficult situation of these countries (political - economic - social and religious). The main reasons behind their illegal migrations are poverty, unemployment, exclusiveness and marginalization at the local level as well as being fascinated by the western world and culture. A Mali Express bus in Mali, January 2011

17 AN INTERVIEW WITH SAID: A MOROCCAN MIGRANT TO ITALY (2011) Fkih Ben Salah is a small town located in a rural and mountain region called Beni Mellal- Azilal in Morocco. Most young adults ambition in this location is to immigrate to Europe due to drought and poverty. Said is one of those young. Said migrated to Italy in 1986.He was obliged to go there. He said: I didn t want to come here but my family s economic situation forced me to do so. My father is a farmer and my family is very poor. The area has suffered from drought. So I had to help and support them The physical journey in Italy created many complex emotions for him at the beginning. He said: I felt lonely in the first few weeks. At that time, I had no friends and I felt homesick. I couldn t talk to anyone because I did not speak Italian. However, my situation by the time has improved. I began to understand, communicate and integrate into the Italian society. I was able to learn, to work hard and then to have my own family there; Then I started making and friends. My sons and daughters have developed friendships at schools and in the neighborhood. They understood each other and they spoke the same language. With help from their teachers and friends, they started to get used to their lifestyle in Italy. Now I enjoy my life. I have overcome the most difficult part of my stay there. I don t regret going to Italy. My stay there has enabled me to take care of my family here, properly educate my children, invest in profitable projects in Morocco and contribute to the development of my country. There are many people who do not know what difficulties they would need to face, but they knew that their life would not be the same. So they struggle. The problem for some is literacy in a society which believes in knowledge. People, there, learn more skills. Learn how to change them to adapt to the environment in order to overcome the difficulties.

18 What were their experiences?

19 Solomon's 11-year Journey to Bilbao, Spain, November 2004 Solomon Audú s odyssey from Liberia to Spain begins in at the time, he was obliged to leave his village, near the coastal town of Buchanan, after having served as a rebel soldier in the civil war since the age of 5 and after witnessing the death of both of his parents at the hands of government soldiers. His upper left arm bears noticeable scars from the bullet wounds he sustained as a child veteran. Spending long periods in Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Algeria and Morocco, crossing mountains, coastal regions, cities, forests, and desert, he paid his way by working as a street merchant and interpreter between English and Hausa. For two years he lived rough in the mountains outside Melilla, waiting for the opportunity successfully to climb the double fence separating Morocco and the Spanish enclave, using a pair of homemade ladders. He finally landed in Almería in December 2003 and immediately headed north, arriving in Bilbao early in If you want to learn more about the life of Solomon after his arrival, click here

20 The life of Solomon in Spain Once in Bilbao, he was provided with food, accommodation, and an allowance by the Red Cross, who also arranged for Solomon to go to school for the first time, where he is learning Spanish, the only language he is able to write, and Euskera, even though he is fluent in Hausa and his eloquence in English is impressive. Such are his powers of description that he is regularly invited to speak in English about his experiences at schools and universities, with the help of interpreters in Euskera and Spanish. The Red Cross has also sponsored his enrolment in a two-year training course in welding and construction skills. Solomon is also employed by Zutalur, an NGO based in Bilbao. Though granted Spanish residence papers in 2005 he is also in the process of obtaining a Liberian passport, the first passport of his life. This, he believes, would provide him with means of realising his dream of emigrating to the U.S. as a descendant of the freed African-American slaves who founded Liberia

21 The arrival of illegal immigrants near the Italian island of Lampedusa in September 2004

22 Immigrant Wall Drawing, Madrid, Spain, November 2003 In the immigrant neighbourhood of Madrid's Lavapiés, the walls bear witness to journeys across vast continents

23 Migrants came across different kind of experiences: Getting a better life than in their countries Risking their lives while crossing Taking adventures Experiencing real patience

24 What were the consequences?

25 Getting a job and contributing to the development of the host country. Mixed marriages Understanding other cultures and civilization, knowing about other societies values and disseminating to home countries.

26 Many migrants have been successful Others have died or been injured Used cars in EU being sold in Morocco

27 A Social Gymnasium has been set up by immigrants in the Moroccan town of Fkih ben Saleh.

28 Over time, the immigrants experienced different reactions from within their host countries Some are against illegal migration and ask to penalize the exporting countries Others consider it as normal act and raised the issues of human rights. They are convinced that these migrants should lead a decent life wherever the go and live.

29 Increasingly violent social conflicts between disillusioned migrants and their neighbourhood, insufficiently integrated into the society and often living as outcast in suburban ghettos, like in Cachan (Paris) and other French cities in 2005, are foreseeable also in other European countries, probably reinforced by related ultra right wing excesses. Dirk Kohnert, African Migration to Europe: Obscured Responsibilities and Common Misconceptions (Leipzig 2007) 18.

30 [T]he Southern European countries of Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece (and now Malta and Cyprus) ( ) have obligations to adopt strict immigration controls, measures for the detection and expulsion of illegal migrants, and other common procedures under both EU rules and the Schengen Treaty. After the creation of the Schengen zone, the EU countries cooperated in controlling economic immigration. Martin Baldwin-Edwards, The Changing Mosaic of Mediterranean Migrations (Athens 2004)

31 Equally, recent EU pressure on West African countries like Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Conakry to crack down on irregular migration are somehow at odds with the freedom of movement enshrined in the 1971 protocol of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment. Citizens of ECOWAS states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo) at least nominally have the right to settle, work, and do business in other ECOWAS states. Hein de Haas, Trans-Saharan Migration to North Africa and the EU: Historical Roots and Current Trends (Oxford 2006 )

32 Popular responses to anti-immigration laws In France, people rallied against anti-immigration measures taken by the government of Nicolas Sarkozy. These pictures were taken during a demonstration against "disposable immigration", in Paris on the 13th of May "Regularize the children of your ex colonies" "The foreigners - like them or leave France"

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34 The only help: Front National To stop the failure of the immigration politics of the Sarkozy administration, the Front Narional demands: Complete stop of the legal immigration, immigrants already present on the national territory are required to assimilate. The unconditional and immediate expulsion of all illegal immigrants in France. The stop of all the politics of integration focussed on positive discrimination. The application of the national sentiment in the areas of employment, housing and welfare. Combine the sources shown in the last 6 panels. What can you say about the way immigrants are perceived in Western European countries?

35 Melilla border fence This fence was constructed by Spain at the border of the Spanish enclave Melilla at the Moroccan coast. It main purpose is to stop illegal immigration and smuggling.

36 New migration currents after the Arab spring of 2011 As great numbers of North African immigrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea after the upheavals during the Arab Spring in 2011, European politicians pushed for border controls and the rethinking of the visa free Schengen zone. The Irish Times - Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Arab spring may lead to redrawing of Schengen-eroded borders Even though the outwork of the ructions in North Africa and the Middle East is likely to remain unclear for a long time, the upheavals may soon lead to an emergency rejig of the Schengen rules. Such are the unpredictable vicissitudes of the Arab spring. The first reason for this is an influx of 30,000 mostly Tunisian migrants to the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, many of them arriving over the Mediterranean on rickety fishing boats. Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi claims Rome cannot handle this on its own, but his EU counterparts have spurned pleas for special aid. Thanks to French colonialism, the Tunisians are French- speakers. With no little Italian help, many of them tried to flee to France. President Nicolas Sarkozy was predictably boisterous in his response. Border controls are way up, trains are under close surveillance and the Tunisians are being sent back to Italy if caught. At the weekend, however, the European Commission responded to Franco- Italian concerns by saying it is now examining new measures to allow member states reinstate some border controls in a review of migration policy. The temporary restoration of borders is one of the possibilities, provided this is subject to specific and clearly defined criteria, that could be an element to strengthen the governance of the Schengen agreement, said commission chief José Manuel Barroso in a letter to Sarkozy and Berlusconi.

37 What is the bigger picture?

38 Italian emigration to the United States Mulberry Street, Little Italy Manhatten, New York, circa 1900 Economic migration is nothing new. Just as many people from Africa have recently been trying to escape extreme hardship and find a new life in Italy so millions of Italians, especially from the povertystricken South, went to the United States between the 1880s and Many of these migrants were able to send money back home to their relatives. This money remitted home was the biggest single source of income for Southern Italians in the years before 1914.

39 Emigration from Malta SUMMARY OF MALTESE MIGRATION PATTERNS ( ) Country To From Net migration Return % Australia 86,787 17,847 68, Canada 19,792 4,798 14, UK 31,489 12,659 18, U.S.A. 11,601 2,580 9, Other 1, Total 155,060 39, , Since the 1950s there has been a regular flow of economic migrants leaving Malta in the hope of a better life abroad. This was also true of many people of Spain and Portugal. In past few years Malta has received many thousands of economic migrants from North Africa. This is an example of the way how the patterns of economic migration constantly change.

40 Gastarbeiter in Germany Italians in the 1962 in West Germany Germany has been a magnet for economic migration since the 1950s. Vietnamese in the GDR in 1990

41 Economic migration from Eastern Europe Since the end of the Cold War there has been large scale economic migration to the West from former communist states in Eastern Europe. Just like Italian-Americans one hundred years ago, they send money back home to there relatives. Money Transfer Remittance advertising in Oxford Street, London with Polish and Russian slogans.

42 Mexican migration to the United States It is not only Europe that is affected by economic migration. In recent years the numbers of economic migrants from Mexico and Latin America into the southern and western states of the USA have increased so rapidly that a huge security fence has been constructed to try to keep them out. Aspiring migrant from Mexico into the US at the Tijuana-San Diego border. The crosses represent the deaths of failed attempts.