International Relations: Migration Myths - Essay Example

International Relations: Migration Myths According to the seven myths presented by Hein De Haass about migration, they distort our understanding of the relationship between migration and development. For instance, the claim that migration leads to brain drain is not strong enough to convince the audience (De Haas, P. 1270). Although elite members of the society have been associated with the current migration, they have actively contributed to the socioeconomic development to not only to the receiving countries but also to the sending countries through remittances.

For example, most of the migrants have been accused of remitting their earnings to the country of origin, leading to the disappearance of the income earned in the receiving countries (De Haas, p.1271). Also, the relationship between migration and development should be seen as reciprocal. That is, migration is both a constituent part of development processes and an independent factor affecting development in migrant sending and receiving societies. Although migrants are actively involved in economic activities in the receiving countries, their remittance to the sending countries is not only used to support their dependents but also invested in the economic activities.

In receiving societies, migration and development policies tend to be seen as separate policy domains, and the former distorted by some migration myths. A good example is the case of the Netherlands where remittance by migrants was viewed as a disappearance of income earned in the receiving country. Also, it was viewed as a lack of both economic and social integration in the receiving country. Therefore, countries have enacted restrictive policies at both the sending and receiving ends to encourage permanent settlement while discouraging circular migration.

Also, the stay at home policies in sending states is aimed at improving social, economic and political attractiveness to migrants as to encourage investment and return. The theories seem to suggest the need to encourage more open and flexible, rather than restrictive, migration policies. As a result, open borders to demand-driven labor migration (both low and high skilled), while guaranteeing workers’ rights in receiving states. Works cited De Haas, Hein. "International migration, remittances and development: myths and facts.

" Third World Quarterly 26.8 (2005): 1269-1284.