期刊名称：Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skodowska. Sectio B, Geographia, Geologia, Mineralogia et Petrographia
印刷版ISSN：0137-2025
出版年度：2007
卷号：LXII
出版社：Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin
摘要：Migration processes are highly complex and that results in abundance of theoretical approaches. Because of great diversification of types of migration, creating all-purpose migration theory seems to be impossible. Thus, vast majority of migration research focuses on a particular type and aspect of migration. Most migration theories are created in strict isolation from other theories, do not benefit from either their background or achievements. This article tries to classify the most important migration theories and to point out prospects for unification of theories.
Classification of theories may be based on diverse criteria. State borders are most commonly used as the main factor influencing migration and thus internal and international migration theories may be distinguished. Migration may be treated as a result or as a cause of changes in socioeconomic and natural environment, and that criterion separates two groups of theories, as well. Theories may be divided into conflict and balance theories, perceiving migration as a factor enabling domination of rich countries over poor ones or as a factor restoring economic balance in the world. The next division is based on recognizing macro- and micro-scale of migration research, which needs different approaches. The last classification, used in the following text, distinguishes theories according to research disciplines, as they use different research tools and approaches to migration processes.
Economic theories assume that economic determinants influence migration decisions to the largest extent; non-monetary costs are not taken into consideration. Classic macroeconomic theory believes that profit-maximization is a goal itself and migrants choose destinations providing largest revenue. Neoclassic economic theory presumes migration is a simple result of differences of wages. New economic theory of migration emphasizes the importance of relative level of life. Dual labour market theory considers shortage of labour force in well-developed countries as the main migration determinant, while world system theory believes that strife towards further development of these countries is the most important factor.i
Most sociological theories focus on reasons and individual motives of migration. Migration networks theory assumes the personal ties are of crucial importance for migrations and that people follow former paths of migration. Institutional theory perceives migration as a feedback of former migrations and organizations that arise to enable migration. Cumulative causation theory believes future migrations are indirect results of former migrations that changed social and economic context of living in a society of origin. Intervening opportunities theory presumes intensity of migration flows between two locations does not depend on distance, but on presence of other destinations. Intervening obstacles theory treats barriers to migration as factors far more important than opportunities.
Geographical theories emphasize the relationship between a human being and geographical environment and search for migration determinants within spatial differentiation of the world. The first contemporary migration theory ever is a gravitational theory assuming that flows depend on sizes of origin and destination and distance between them. Mobility transition theory compares changes of migration over time with changes of fertility and mortality.
Each of these theories properly defines and analyses some aspects of migratory processes, but all of them fail to cover all types of migration. Thus, the most important and the most difficult aim, namely creating a universal migration theory, is still out of reach. All efforts will face the problem of necessity of deeper generalization that at the end will preclude any empirical verification.
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