How Migration Really Works

There is one topic that has dominated the evening news for years now, especially in Europe and the US: immigration. One night, it’s a report about the latest immigration reform, and the next, it’s breaking news about another tragedy in the Mediterranean, or a feature about successful integration of migrants or refugees in a local community.

So, the topic of migration permeates through politics and society and everyone seems to have an opinion on it. Unfortunately, most debates about migration lack nuance and reason and have become highly polarizing. In an effort to return to a fact-based approach, Hein de Haas debunks common misperceptions about migration in his 2023 book „How Migration Really Works - A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics.“

One quick note before we dive into this complex topic: This book mainly deals with people who migrate - legally as well as illegally - in order to pursue work-related opportunities. It does not explore in detail the refugee crises of the past years, but distinguishes between different types of migrant when necessary, including forced migrants.

The structure of the book is simple: at the beginning of each chapter the author briefly illustrates a common „myth“ people, politicians, and organizations believe or spread about migration. These myths range from basic assumptions about the global dynamic of migrations („Emigration is a desperate flight from misery“) to ill-advised framing of migration from both sides of the political spectrum („Immigration undermines the welfare state“ or „We need immigrants to fix the problems of ageing societies“) and intentional deception („Border restrictions reduce immigration“). Then, de Haas explains „how it really works“ and breaks the myth down to fact-check its components.

One theme weaves through many of the chapters, especially at the end of the book: the way politicians talk about immigration and the policies they enact often don’t align and both deny the realities and dynamics of migration. Hein de Haas argues that politicians find themselves in a „trilemma“ between business interests, citizens’ concerns, and pressure from humanitarian organizations, which leads them to act this way. The public rarely recognizes this „trilemma“ and politicians try to sweep it under the table; this makes it harder to acknowledge the complexity of the phenomenon and the interdisciplinary approaches necessary. Eventually, this leads to ineffective and costly policies that don’t address the underlying issues. Politicians pour huge amounts of money into stronger border controls only to find that this increases illegal immigration, makes migration routes more dangerous, and encourages permanent settlements rather than „circular migration“ - people returning home and coming back to destination countries when economic circumstances allow it. Migration is also driven much more by demands in the labor force and industry initiatives than politicians admit (conservatives and liberals alike).

Exaggerated claims also come from humanitarian organizations. A common concern is that climate change will lead to international mass migration because of the displacement of millions of people. The author reveals why this is unlikely: people might lack the resources to migrate - most migrants in fact do not belong to the poorest section of a country’s population -, decide to adapt to environmental hazards, or relocate to a different are within their home country.

Another aspects that comes up again and again - de Haas also ends on this note in his conclusion - is that immigration issues are almost always linked to more fundamental questions about how we want to shape our society and economic system. The author puts this nicely in the last sentence of the book:„Any real debate on migration will therefore inevitably be a debate on the type of society we want to live in.“ This applies to issues as diverse as workers’ rights, care for children and the elderly, our healthcare system, and even our food supply. Framing immigrants as criminals or freeloaders, as many people quickly do, distracts from political failures of the past and present. If you want to understand how this all relates, I strongly recommend you read this book.

Due to the structure of the chapters - they all end with a summarizing paragraph of the main points - the book is a bit repetitive and can even appear dry. Some aspects were repeated three or four times in a chapter using only slightly different words. Usually, I appreciate quick summaries at the end of long chapters but in this case it felt unnecessary because the author reiterates many points throughout the chapter.

The entire book is very fact-based, which is great, but it lacks elements that keep the reader engaged throughout. There were some brief accounts of fieldwork the author did (for example in Morocco) and I would have enjoyed more detailed reports of these experiences; not to rely on anecdotal evidence, but to experience more variety in the writing. For these reasons, it took me a few weeks to finish the book, especially because I wanted to read it back to back. Maybe you’ll have a different impression if you only read the chapters that are the most interesting to you and return to the book from time to time. Keep in mind that this might prevent you from grasping the bigger picture.

Still, de Haas’ book is an informative and essential toolbox that enables the reader to have more effective and profound debates about migration. It empowers citizens - who, as it turns out, already tend to have fairly nuanced opinions on migration - to see through popular but unfounded claims made by politicians, the media, and organizations. Certain chapters will probably challenge some of your own long-held assumptions; this is usually what makes a good book. Try to have an open mind. In the end, you’ll most likely walk away with a deeper understanding of an issue that is too important to fall prey to populism and bias.

Thank you for reading!

Lienne