How Immigration Really Works: A Factual Guide to a Politically Divisive Issue
Written by Hein de Haas
Penguin Random House2024
In How migration really worksProfessor Hein de Haas passionately proposes a new perspective, a new discourse, and a holistic perspective on migration that bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and the social narratives adopted by politicians, journalists, and humanitarian organizations. He proves how an informed public debate about migration is not only possible but essential, as the old strategy of fighting the war on migration has long hidden the political, economic, and social responsibilities – often leading to major changes in the world. Migration policies played a key role in the Brexit, European and US elections, and provided reasons for increased budgets for border military conscription, to name just a few examples.
Drawing on rigorous research from history, economics, anthropology, sociology, geography, and demography, this book continues to debunk misconceptions or misconceptions about migration – its causes, nature, and consequences. However, it avoids the trap of monolithic worldviews, acknowledging the absence of simple solutions to complex social issues such as migration. Evidence, facts, and information do not speak for themselves, and this “guide” builds on decades of academic research to suggest the translation of this information into an accessible, inclusive format that makes the boundaries of the social sciences more accessible to public debate and policy making.
Organized in three parts, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of global migration patterns, examines its impact on both host and origin societies, and examines the role of propaganda in distorting migration issues. By debunking 22 myths, de Haas addresses topics such as social cohesion, crime, labor, and climate change, going beyond the simplistic view of migration as a threat or a solution. Below, I revisit four persistent and influential myths in public discourse, which provide important insights for reframing the debate about migration in various contexts.
There are unprecedented and alarming levels of migration
The idea that migration has reached unprecedented and alarming levels, as often asserted by governments and international organizations, is removed from the front pages. As de Haas points out, immigration has remained low and stable over the past decades, accounting for about 3% of the world’s population—far from an invasion perspective. Despite global challenges such as disasters, inequality, and injustice, four-fifths of the world’s population still live in their own countries. In addition, many migrants migrate legally and are actively sought after by local communities, especially for labor purposes.
In contrast, unsolicited border arrivals, including asylum seekers and those with no viable alternative to irregular travel, do not rise and remain a small part of migration. de Haas suggests that politicians who say their countries cannot bear the weight of the world’s suffering can take a step back: if the refugee crisis exists, focus on the places from which it originates. In the countries of the Global North, the pattern is not good, and the most serious problem is the failure to recognize political asylum.
Labor shortages, not development issues, are the main drivers of migration
Another persistent myth is that investing in the economic development of countries of origin will reduce migration. As de Hass points out, decades of research have shown that the relationship between migration and development follows a U-curve: migration increases as economic conditions improve, then decreases at higher levels of development. Migration, as de Haas asserts, is an integral, indivisible, and inevitable part of development. Although investing in the development of indigenous countries may not reduce migration in the short term, the need for labor is still the main driver of migration.
In fact, immigrants often fill the gaps caused by the lack of jobs, and they do so with a negative impact on the welfare and working and housing conditions of the country’s population. As de Haas effectively demonstrates, governments—not migrants—must be held accountable for such situations. This emphasizes that public discourse on migration tends to exaggerate small effects such as change, confuse cause and effect, and cause-and-effect relationships, ultimately leading to flawed paradigms.
Smuggling is a response to border control, not the cause of illegal migration
Smuggling is not a cause of illegal immigration; rather, illegal migration is a direct response to strict border control enforcement, which forces people to rely on intermediaries such as smugglers. Misunderstanding this causal relationship has led to the popular but misguided ‘war on smuggling’, a prime example of ineffective policy where politicians become part of the problem they aim to solve. Contrary to popular belief, traffickers rarely work within organized crime networks; they often operate independently on a local scale and do not constitute an ‘immigration industry’ that can be dismantled to curb migration.
The real industry that profits from the use of borders is the border patrol industry, including arms and technology companies. The author shows how border restrictions often result in increased illegal migration and more smuggling, creating a vicious cycle that systematically undermines the goals of border enforcement (p.259). The expected implementation of strict border controls actually causes unexpected migration, prevents return and circular movements, and turns temporary migration into permanent residence. Boundaries that are hard to cross don’t stop people; they simply make migration more dangerous and deadly.
Migration is not the solution to global inequality, but it is part of the trilemma
Myths also persist within the pro-immigration side of the debate. The idea that migration alone can solve global inequalities or address demographic trends, such as aging populations, is misleading and absurd. Despite the increase in migration, inequality endures, and immigration has little impact on birth rates. Additionally, the perception that borders are tighter than ever is inaccurate. Although legal barriers to migration have generally declined, the pace of migration has slowed significantly since the 1990s. At the same time, immigrants today enjoy more rights than in the past.
This situation creates a paradox that often paralyzes modern liberal democracies, often called the immigration trilemma: the conflicting requirements of controlling migration, promoting economic interests, and upholding human rights cannot be achieved simultaneously. The most common response to this trilemma is to prevent ‘unsolicited arrivals,’ filter traffic, and exclude asylum seekers and other migrants who are entitled to protection. To achieve this, destination countries engage in large-scale exclusion policies, enlisting countries of origin and transit in border strengthening and migration prevention efforts. As a result, for those not involved in the legal process, the borders have become increasingly violent and terrifying.
Final words
In How Migration Really Worksde Haas deconstructs entrenched myths about migration, entrenched in popular discourse, through rigorous scientific evidence, maps, charts, and data. Each tale is carefully analyzed, giving readers a solid foundation to challenge their preconceived notions and inspiring reflection beyond the book itself. However, one important aspect that remains somewhat unexplained is the critique of the widespread assumption that the violence and harsh realities of border practices—especially for those without access to internationally recognized travel routes—are somehow inevitable. This belief, combined with the security and militarization of borders along key migration routes, promotes the misconception that effective alternatives to the current movement of people do not exist. This idea of a solution contributes to the dependence of a policy approach that has always failed.
Further examination of these dynamics may illuminate how migration, as a complex social phenomenon, is deeply intertwined with power relations and historical struggles rooted in colonialism, gender, class, and ethnicity—factors that often remain obscure but deeply embedded in migration discourses and processes. . These underlying issues, which cut through the myths discussed, have profound implications that cannot be fully understood through a positivist lens. Ignoring them risks erasing local and individual issues that reflect systemic trends.
If How Migration Really Works it proves how important it is to create a platform for undivided debate, it is equally urgent to expand the spaces of opportunity that go beyond the trodden paths and to look at the very different ways of migration. As de Haas explains, such an approach requires understanding migration within its historical context, recognizing it as a normal part of life, and looking at it through the lens of movement justice, rather than just an economic issue. Only by doing so can we begin to rethink migration policies, thus moving to the question “what should we do?”. We must understand how immigration actually works in order to define the directions we want to take as a society and properly assign the responsibilities of these directions.
Further Studies in E-International Relations
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