Original scientific paper

The Postwar Migration Perspective of Europe

Emil Heršak ; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

In this paper the author attempts to illustrate the constant relationship between labour migration and socio-economic development. The latter category acts to change the relative position of migration within the migration chain, i.e. it acts to change the migration perspective of such regions. Industrialization, as the dominant element of development in contemporary societies, can be seen as the common denominator both of emigration and immigration. The author discusses this assumption in relation to classic concepts of political economy – growth of the organic structure of capital, the concept of the reserve army of labour. Analysis of the European migration perspective is concretized in the example of “guest worker” migration. Special attention is paid to the effects of the 1973 energy crisis on the migration phenomenon. The thesis on the structural need for foreign workers in host countries, which is present in discussions regarding “integration” of foreigners in the social fabric of immigration countries, is described with (reference to concepts such as “late capitalism”, “the welfare state” and “class harmony”. In the last part of this paper, the author briefly examines immigration in traditional emigration countries (Italy, Greece, Spain).

Keywords

labour migration; migration perspective; socio-economic development; Europe

Hrčak ID:

128926

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/128926

Publication date:

29.3.1985.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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