In a recent article in the Volkskrant, migration researcher Dr Simona Vezzoli discussed how borders shape migration decisions and patterns. Drawing on insights linked to the research project she is currently leading, Making migration and migration policy decisions amidst societal transformations (PACES), she shares insights from past and current research across Africa, Europe and North and South America. The article, available in Dutch for subscribers, sheds light on these dynamics.
How borders influence migration decisions
The article images a world where borders are fully open, raising questions about migration, global trade and national identity. Dr Vezzoli offers a unique perspective, particularly on the psychological and social impacts of such a scenario.
Dr Vezzoli argues that borders influence migration in counterintuitive ways. People don’t expect for borders to stay open indefinitely, which can lead to a rush to migrate when restrictions ease. She notes an example from the 1970s, when the closure of migration routes from Suriname to the Netherlands triggered a mass exodus.
However, Dr Vezzoli highlights a different dynamic in places where borders have remained open, like French Guiana, a region still connected to France. Here, ‘most people feel no need to leave,’ suggesting that when borders are permanently open, people think longer about what they really want from life, reducing the urgency to move, and embarking on migration only when it helps to fulfill a wide range of life aspirations.
This nuanced understanding is central to the PACES project, suggesting that open borders may not lead to mass migration but encourage more thoughtful, deliberate decisions about relocation. For further details on the project, visit the PACES website.
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