New forms of intra-European migration, labour market dynamics and social inequality in Europe

Abstract

This article deals mainly with new forms of Intra-European migration, processes of integration and inequality, and the dynamics of emerging transnational labour markets in Europe. We discuss these issues against the background of fundamental changes which have been taking place on the European continent over the past two decades. Drawing on available comparative European data, we examine, in a first step, whether the changes in intra-European migration patterns have been accompanied by a differentiation of the causes of migration. In a second step, we discuss the extent to which new forms of transnational labour markets have been emerging within Europe and their effects on systems of social stratification.

Gendered Migrations and Global Social Reproduction

“…As Bauman (1998: 2) has argued, 'mobility climbs to the rank of the uppermost among the coveted values -and the freedom to move, perpetually a scarce and unequally distributed commodity, fast becomes the main stratifying factor of our late modern or postmodern times'. Mobility and social inequality are 'mutually co-produced and interrelated' as a review of new forms of intra-European migrations highlights (Verwiebe et al 2014).…”

How positive and negative contact experiences relate to identification and acculturation of persons with a migration background: Differentiating between majority, minority, and religious group identity

“…It witnessed major phases of immigration during its economic boom in the 1960s and 1970s, but also very recently since the onset of the European debt crisis (Verwiebe, Wiesb€ ock, & Teitzer, 2014), and the increased refugee immigration as a consequence of the civil wars in Middle-Eastern countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It witnessed major phases of immigration during its economic boom in the 1960s and 1970s, but also very recently since the onset of the European debt crisis (Verwiebe, Wiesb€ ock, & Teitzer, 2014), and the increased refugee immigration as a consequence of the civil wars in Middle-Eastern countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.…”

“…Today, Germany is the most preferred country of immigration in Europe (United Nations, 2017). It witnessed major phases of immigration during its economic boom in the 1960s and 1970s, but also very recently since the onset of the European debt crisis (Verwiebe, Wiesb€ ock, & Teitzer, 2014), and the increased refugee immigration as a consequence of the civil wars in Middle-Eastern countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In 2016 about 11% of the people living in Germany held a foreign citizenship (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2017a) and about 22.5% of the people living in Germany had a migration background (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2017b).…”

Liquid Migration and Its Consequences for Local Integration Policies

“…This pertains especially to uncertainties and opportunities in the labour market. Many mobile workers have temporary jobs and work below their actual educational qualifications in European countries, but they also have limited opportunities in the labour markets of their origin countries (Nowicka 2012;Verwiebe et al 2014;Voitchovsky 2014;McCollum and Findlay (2015). This contributes to a liquid life: "lived under conditions of constant uncertainty" (Bauman 2005:2).…”