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Chapter by Chapter ResourcesChapter 10: Not wanted but needed: migrants and minorities
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Driven by a combination of human need, labour demand and continued colonial ties, immigration has long been a fact of life in Europe, even if governments, responding to public concerns, have been trying to limit it since the 1970s.
Partly as a result of these restrictions, but also because of the relative wealth of Europe, improvements in transport, and a possible increase in global conflict since the end of the cold war, more migrants have begun arriving either illegally or as asylum-seekers. Numbers have also been swollen by comparatively unrestricted family reunion.
These patterns, plus the historically-constituted regimes and relationships of individual states mean that the 'burden' of immigration has been unequally distributed.
Immigration poses problems for politicians because of public antagonism (some of which they, along with the media) help create, but also because it might help offset the negative affects of Europe's ageing population.
Although countries maintain their own distinctive immigration regimes they also cooperate at European level where they believe it well help them maintain control.
Recently governments have put a premium not just on restricting entry but also on improving the integration of those migrants already in Europe.
Europe's record on integrating minorities is not always good: problems for the Roma, for example, persist.
Immigration and the dilemmas it poses are likely to continue in the future.
(For general web materials on European Politics see Tim Bale's Internet Guide)
Reports and statistics on refugees are provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
On those who flee to the region to escape persecution, see European Council on Refugees and Exiles
On racism, see the European Network Against Racism
Human Rights Watch operates in European
countries, too
For contrasting views and information on migration in European countries, see the
Migration Policy
Group, Migration Watch, the Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute
Information on migration in each country is provided by the Migration Policy Institute
and, for Central and Eastern Europe, the European Parliament
For academic research on migration, start with the Sussex Centre for Migration Research
On Roma (Gypsies), try the Rom News Network
and the European Roma Rights Center
1. Why, historically, have European countries attracted migrants, be they from inside or outside Europe?
2. In recent years, where have migrants to Europe come from, why have they come, and where do they go?
3. Do you think increased immigration in and of itself satisfactorily explains the rise of the far-right in Europe?
4. In your opinion, are some European countries right to be more anxious about asylum seekers than others?
5. Europe's population is ageing: can migration help solve the problem?
6. Does the EU undermine or support European countries' attempts to control immigration?
7. How are European countries trying to integrate or assimilate migrants? Is this something you think should be encouraged?
8. Does the historical and present plight of Europe's gypsies - the Roma - give us cause for optimism or pessimism.
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