Modern migration is more complex than ever
As societies around the globe become increasingly diverse, the dynamics of migration demand a more nuanced understanding. Superdiversity, a concept created by Steven Vertovec, encapsulates the complex interplay of factors surrounding contemporary human movement and its outcomes. Here, he considers how migration is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by economic, social, political, demographic and environmental forces.
Nima is a Zongo town in the Accra region of Ghana. This picture was taken on 15 April 2024 during a research stay in the area.
© Jamila Hamidu
A contribution from Steven Vertovec
In today’s interconnected world, migration is more complex than ever. Superdiversity reflects the profound diversification of processes, social and legal categories, and resultant societal configurations comprising contemporary global migration. Current human mobility patterns are complicated by an array of factors including political instability, insecurity, violence, economic opportunities, family reunification, educational aspirations, and increasingly, climate change. Understanding these multiple stimuli and their linkage is crucial as we navigate this new era of human movement.
Current Migration Statistics
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that there are currently some 281 million international migrants, representing 3.6 percent of the global population and marked by a slight male majority (51.9 percent males to 49.4 percent females). This figure reflects a rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily stunted global movement. Internal migration has also dramatically increased over the last twenty years, with estimates suggesting that over 2 billion people now move within their own countries. The decision to migrate is often influenced by a combination of causes rather than any single one, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of its drivers.
The Complex Nature of Migration
The author, Steven Vertovec, is Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Göttingen.
© Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Göttingen
Migration is seldom a singular response to one factor. Rather, it involves a mix of multiple influences, including political instability, economic necessity, social factors, demographic pressures, and environmental changes. These influences interact in various ways, perpetually impelling and intensifying each other. For instance, political corruption and violence can exacerbate economic inequalities, which in turn may be worsened by environmental degradation. Migration decisions also involve considerations of temporality (when to move), geography (where to move), and selectivity (who moves).
Climate Change and Migration
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights that climate hazards associated with extreme events may act as direct drivers of involuntary migration and displacement, while migration may also arise indirectly through the deterioration of climate-sensitive livelihoods. These are not just significant concerns for possible climate change futures. Recent years have seen large-scale displacements triggered by climate- and weather-related disasters in many parts of the world, including the Sahel region of Africa, Pakistan, the Philippines, China, India, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Colombia.
Estimates of so-called “climate migrants” vary widely, with projections suggesting that by 2050, between 200 million and 1.4 billion people may need to relocate due to the climate crisis. Environmental changes, including sudden-onset disasters like floods and slow-onset events such as droughts and sea-level rise, exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Between 2008 and 2021, nearly 350 million people were internally displaced due to rapid-onset environmental events, with around 6 million relocating permanently and some crossing international borders following natural disasters.
Challenges and Responses
Climate-
