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Migration in the Middle East and Mediterranean. A Regional Study prepared for the Global Commission on International Migration

Document number
2275
Date
2005
Title
Migration in the Middle East and Mediterranean. A Regional Study prepared for the Global Commission on International Migration
Author/publisher
Martin Baldwin-Edwards
Availability
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Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Irregular Migration, Feminization of migration, Economic migration, Labour migration, Free movement, Undocumented migrants; Undocumented labour; Migrant rights; Migration management; Comprehensive approach to migration; Migration policy; Restrictive migration measures,
Summary
The Mediterranean and Middle East constitute probably the most remarkable geographical region of the world with respect to labour migration movements. From the post-World War II discouragement of emigration by Maghrebian and other countries, followed by Europe's 1960s labour immigration from Turkey and the Maghreb, through the oil-financed economic expansion of GCC countries with labour shortages and massive guestworker programmes, later followed by two Gulf crises and mass expulsions of Arab guestworkers, and now with surplus labour supplies and high unemployment throughout the MENA region, the migration of peoples has been massive and in continuous flux. We have not even mentioned forced migration, and the large-scale refugee movements which have impacted on many states in the region - usually those which have been the least able to accommodate them.
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