My paper examines the issue of international immigration and immigrant incorporation with a keen eye on how that has positively affected or benefited both the host countries as well as the sending countries.
Abstract
Immigration has been experienced in the world in a long time because people keep moving back and forth from one country to another. In some instances, immigrants and members of the host country assimilate and get to resemble one another in a process that can best be described as incorporation. Through that there is an economic and cultural integration and merging that positively influences members of both societies from one generation to the next. Integration of immigrants into the society that receives them determines how these immigrants will be affected and will affect the host community as well as their mother countries. By and large, the experiences of first generation immigrants reflect their cultures, as well as that of the host countries and subsequent generations, will embody transnational social ties. That in a way contributes to the development of a vibrant culture as seen in countries such as the United States, which happens to be home to very many people of different nationalities from across the world. The world has been redefined economically, socially and culturally thanks to immigration and immigrant incorporation because they have played a role in seamlessly accommodating different cultures in one place at the same time and thus making the world a better place to live.
Proposed argument
My proposed argument will mainly focus on how the world has benefited from the movement of people across borders. Many would want to focus on how they have benefited from interacting with people who expose them to a culture that is different from theirs; how that has positively impacted their social lives and how the economies of most countries have significantly benefited from having people move into a country. I will draw upon the examples of the United States and that of Britain as regards their immigration policies and how they have affected immigration and immigrant incorporation, and how that affects the two countries and many others that share a lot in common with either of them.
In 2004 when the European Union opened its doors to eight East European countries, there was a need to impose stricter migration policies, but Britain did not do that. It was projected that within a short time, the country could be overflowing with immigrants from countries such as Poland and that the country could be overwhelmed. More than a decade later, less than a million immigrants from the Eastern European countries have arrived in the country. Many of these 21st-century immigrants have largely contributed to the economy of Britain because they do menial jobs like cleaning the streets, on construction sites and even picking crops. Britain is still standing strong and is one of the richest countries in the world. It is growing stronger while some countries that should be enjoying such greatness as that of Britain are still lagging behind economically.
On the contrary, the United States has always had tight immigration controls, but the country still attracts large numbers of immigrants many of whom who are illegally living in the country. Since the mid 20th century when the country became overprotective of its borders, it attracted immigrants from across the world, the country spends millions of dollars trying to locate and send these illegal immigrants to their home countries. There is growing fear and tension between the legal immigrants and natives and the new wave of legal and illegal immigrants because American immigration policies have always projected any new immigrant as suspects or criminals. That often leads to uncomfortable situations that lead to a lot of suspicions and pointing accusing fingers between legal and illegal immigrants and those who moved into the country recently as well as those who moved a while ago. It is imperative also to point out how lines are drawn between various groups, and that is perceived to be one of the main reason the country is still deeply embedded in racial issues.
Immigration is a very sensitive topic especially when one looks at how different people perceive immigrants. Some see them as the source of their problems, a threat to the security of a country and that they take away jobs and resources that members of the host country enjoy. For instance, in the United States, immigrants have always received negative treatment from the natives and are never welcomed especially if they are coming from some parts of the world. A good example is the Mexicans who constitute the largest number of illegal immigrants who are perceived as a threat to other Americans as they are always associated with drugs and crime.
The world has been redefined thanks to immigration and immigrant incorporation as seen through what is going on in different countries and more so the United States. Many would rather they focused on the negative effects of migration and assumed the positive influence immigrants have in the host country as well as their home countries. There is a tremendous economic, social and cultural impact of immigration, and in this highly integrated world, popular culture that carries with it different social and cultural practices from around the world are openly displayed in what can be termed as a single world culture. In the United States, immigrant communities have brought their time- tested traditions, customs and belief systems that have propelled and uplifted Americans to a whole new level.
When it comes to the effects immigration and immigrant incorporation in as far as culture is concerned, it goes without saying that it leads to the increase in cultural diversity. The world has become a global village thanks to globalization and immigration and, therefore, is becoming smaller by the day. It is worth mentioning that there is product diversity; one will walk the streets of any community in the United States and find different ethnic restaurants to dine and where anyone can get to learn new diet trends. That is beside the cultural richness that is expressed in very many other spheres of life.
Socially, immigration and immigrant incorporation have led to the improvement or betterment of the lives of millions of people from across the globe whether they are members of the host countries or the sending countries. Immigrants normally lead to change and development of their host and home countries. Immigrants often find different standards of living that are better and if they are not; they work hard to make life better for themselves. The quality of life for everyone involved is improved. Mostly, the immigrants get better opportunities and chances that will give them a fulfilling life.
Immigration will also lead to the economic growth of the host country as well as the home countries of immigrants. The host country will get to enjoy the benefits of having a younger and stronger workforce that will take up the positions that are being left behind by the retiring older generation. Immigrants who move with their children will have greatly contributed to the increased population of the working class in future; they will help boost the economies of either country because many of them invest back in their home countries. Some of them end up in the skilled workforce sectors. For example, if the host country lacks sufficient neurologists, an influx of neurologists will translate to increased supply of people with that skill.
Annotated bibliography
Darrell, M West. Brain gain: Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy. Washington D. C: Brookings Institution Press, 2010. Print
According to the author, a country stands to benefit a lot if it plays host to immigrants. He uses the United States as a very important example because through it; the country has gained substantial social, economic, cultural as well as intellectual benefits. Besides, the natives get a taste of what the outside world looks like even if they do not move outside the country. The author has supported that by pointing out different areas of life that have been positively impacted by the immigrant population. Also, he points out how unfair the immigration policy of the country is to the Americans themselves as well as the immigrants. The book will be very useful in completing my paper because it offers insights into how immigration has been perceived in the United States. Also, it will give insights into the roles played by immigrants in boosting economic growth. Finally, the book gives a possible outcome of what the country will become if immigration policy is changed. The most applicable theory used by the author is the neoclassical theory because the work examines how people stand to benefit from different labor markets.
Paul, Collier. Exodus: How Migration is changing Our World. New York: OUP, 2013. Print
According to the author, immigrants are never appreciated in their host countries because they are perceived as a threat to the natives. Many people are desperate to leave their countries in search of better opportunities elsewhere. That is the reason many risk their lives and go to distance lands they do not know but with the promise of a good life many are often ready to risk it all. The author gives some examples of immigrants, whose first generation ancestors moved across borders to look for greener pastures and how that changed the lives of their subsequent generations. Through that, they moved with their traditions which they have continued to celebrate in their new countries and, therefore, contributing to the vitality of the cultures of their wider society. The source will help in bringing out a clear picture of the benefits immigration has had in many societies and families of those who first moved to new countries. The author has used labor market model in the book because he points out how various people stand to benefit from immigration, the best theory that explains that is the classic assimilation theory.
Philippe, Legrain. Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014. Print
According to the author of this book, every country needs immigrants because there is something they see in other nations that is missing in their countries of origin. The book goes on to state that the best thing about immigration is that as long as immigrants are included in the workforce, they will help stimulate the economy of the host countries. They also help increase the consumer numbers thus increasing rates of consumption. The countries will also enjoy the infusion of people who have a rich culture and good family values that will contribute to the creation of a better society. I believe the book will go a long way into giving insights into how important immigration and immigrant incorporation is to the host country. It will also give a lot of information about how immigrants stand to benefit. Also, it will provide information about how hard-line policies are negatively affecting immigrants. The new economic theory of immigration best explains the wok of the author as the work shows the different players in the lives of immigrants, natives and the countries involved.
Ryna Bailey. Immigration and Migration. New York: Infobase, 2010. Print
According to this author, the issue of immigration started a long time ago and through it, the current generation will get a chance of appreciating how it came into being. Besides, the author wants to point out how immigration is a global issue that cannot be wished away. Immigration problems did not begin the other day, and in the United States, they started as early as the 1850s. The source will be critical because it will point out how immigration has been a problem to different regimes and eras. It is not an issue of the 21st century where everybody wants to have a share of the American dream. Immigration may have its downside, but it stands to benefit many countries in the world. The most applicable theory that the author has applied is the neoclassical theory.
Works Cited
Bailey, Ryna. Immigration and Migration. New York: Infobase, 2010. Print
Collier, Paul. Exodus: How Migration is changing Our World. New York: OUP, 2013. Print
Legrain, Philippe . Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014. Print
West, Darrell M. Brain gain: Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy. Washington D. C: Brookings Institution Press, 2010. Print
