Konferenzbericht (PDF-Dokument, 3 MB) - SID

Wissen wandert
creation of Diaspora‟s and ghetto‟s, low costs travel,
and above all „‟the death of distance‟‟ by virtual
means of communications will lead to the reality of
dual allegiances for probably more than one genera-
tion towards the sending and receiving society. So
for a long time to come there will be Ethiopian-
Germans, Turkish-Germans, Indian-Germans, etc..
- And the last new reality: where in the past the de-
mand for foreign workers came also strongly from ru-
ral areas, especially for seasonal work, the flow of
migrants nowadays goes overwhelmingly to the ur-
ban regions, coming from rural and urban regions in
the South (and sometimes the East).
The real societal and political challenge
If the phenomenon of migration will remain in its duration
and in its magnitude, and with its new characteristics,
than it will become or is already one of the main societal,
cultural, economic and political challenges of our time,
not threats, but a real challenge with opportunities.
Jos van Gennip
- The first and overarching challenge will be the con-
nection or reconnection of the flow of „‟unwanted‟‟
migration with that of the wanted and regular one.
Training, education leading to labour participation
are key concepts. But this is not a static process. For
instance the overregulation of the taxi branch in the
Netherlands prevented the inflow of thousands of po-
tential drivers into this sector, where they were really
needed. Room for own small and medium enter-
knowledge migrates
prises is another example. Creative policies are
needed. Sometimes associations of immigrants,
sometimes mosques, temples and parishes can be
very helpful and should be stimulated. And at all
costs one should restrain the development of a
mostly illegal underclass. For instance the prohibition
of a lot of seasonal work in California has had this ef-
fect, whilst in the past seasonal workers went home
after the harvest!
- Then there is the question how to avoid the mirror
process: the fall back of the second or third genera-
tion of legal migrants to the circle of the illegal and
unwanted flow. In the Netherlands and in parts of the
US this is a big threat and a sometimes unanswered
challenge. It has also to do mainly with a loss of alle-
giances either towards (the culture of) the sending or
the receiving society and the traditional norms and
family ties.
- Given the reality of the dual allegiances one should
use to a maximum the potential of the Diaspora to
the benefit of the sending country. Here again one
must distinguish between countries which are in
good standing as far as their governance, democ-
racy, human rights, security is concerned and with
which one can build up normal – development – rela-
tions and countries in disorder and in need of fun-
damental change. Can we utilise the information
about violations of human rights (look at the Chinese
dissidents in the US), how to foster peaceful contri-
butions to get at alternatives, how to find a balance
between the sovereignty of a country and the desire
of the Diaspora to change the situation over there.
- But on the other hand: how can we avoid that the
Diaspora becomes instrumental in sustaining civil
war, ethnic conflicts, and frustrating processes of
truth and reconciliation. (Philippine asylum seekers
in the Netherlands)
93