Migration Phenomen and The Interpretation of The Main Influencing Factors, The Case of Albania

Introduction

Migration is the act undertaken by migrants as they move from one geographic environment to another. The departure happens to seek better conditions, either for them, but also for the family, for the present, but mostly for a better future. With the advancement of telecommunications, transportation and technology in general, people move much faster and easier than before. For this reason, migration, whether voluntary or forced, is developing at high rates throughout the world. People are moving in greater numbers and at a faster rate than at any other time in history. This process is happening at a time when many countries are unprepared to cope with demographic changes and when policies and attitudes towards population movement and immigration have strengthened significantly.¹ Migration is a phenomenon that has affected the world in a global way and of course we find it manifested in the Albanian state as well. Statistics show that a large part of Albanians want to leave in order to create a better life outside the Albanian territory. Based on this fact, there was also a need to further highlight the factors that push the population of the whole world, especially the Albanians, to migrate. Migration is the process of population movement, whether it is a movement within a country or a movement across the border of a country, or a movement across national or regional borders. Migration is a global phenomenon and today it is very relevant. Migration can be long-term or short-term, internal or international. Migration takes place for various reasons. In most cases, people are forced to move from their communities as a result of the lack of political stability, active conflicts that may be developing in the territory of their state, environmental degradation and natural disasters.²

In this framework, a number of factors that can be classified as favorable, unfavorable or neutral have an influence that cause migration. The factors that generally determine the reasons why a person migrates are related to the residence from which the migration starts, also known as the country of origin, and to the new residence, or where the migration ends completely or temporarily, also known as the place of reception or destination. Both the country of origin and the destination are characterized by factors that support or enable migration, reject or hinder or are neutral, or factors that neither support nor oppose migration. The favorable reasons of a territory are the attractive factors that attract a person, while the unfavorable reasons are the hindering factors that force a person to leave. Typically, the causes are economic, sociopolitical and ecological.³ Attracting and inhibiting factors can coexist simultaneously both in the country of origin and in the host country. First, economic factors are related to the general state of the economy, the labor market of a country and the employment situation. Favorable economic conditions in the destination, the prospect of higher wages, better employment opportunities and capital creation are factors that encourage migration. Meanwhile, the desire to leave also grows as a need to escape from the social, economic and political situation of the country of origin. Unemployed and poor individuals, as a result of the unfavorable situation in the country of origin, will be forced to migrate to find ways for their survival. So, against the driving factors of unemployment, lack of employment opportunities, poverty, unsustainable living, there are attractive factors that push towards migration, related to employment opportunities, better incomes, prospects for capital creation, industrial and technical innovations , as well as attending specialized education.⁴ Second, sociopolitical factors are related to ethnicity, religion, race, culture, family conflicts, the search for independence, the threat of conflict or war. Sociopolitical drivers that can cause migration include political instability, security and defense concerns, conflict or the threat of conflict, infrastructure problems, and inadequate or limited urban services. At the same time, the attractive factors related to the sociopolitical dimension of the destination are related to family unification, independence and freedom, integration and social cohesion, provision of food and other material goods, as well as access and affordability of services (health care, education, public services and transportation).⁵ Third, ecological factors include environmental factors, such as climate change and the availability of natural resources, that cause individuals to migrate in search of more favorable ecological conditions. Climate change (including extreme weather events), failure of the country's production or food shortages are driving factors, compared to the abundance of natural resources, minerals and a favorable climate that are considered attractive factors of better migration,⁶ prospects for capital formation, industrial and technical innovations, as well as the pursuit of specialized education.⁷ Sociopolitical factors are related to ethnicity, religion, race, culture, family conflicts, the search for independence, the threat of conflict or war. Sociopolitical drivers that can cause migration include political instability, security and defense concerns, conflict or threat of conflict, infrastructure problems, and inadequate or limited urban services. At the same time, the attractive factors related to the sociopolitical dimension of the destination are related to family unification, independence and freedom, integration and social cohesion, provision of food and other material goods, as well as access and affordability of services (health care, education, public services and transportation).⁸ Third, ecological factors include environmental factors, such as climate change and the availability of natural resources, that cause individuals to migrate in search of more favorable ecological conditions. Climate change (including extreme weather events), failure of the country's production or lack of food are driving factors, against the abundance of natural resources, minerals and favorable climate that are considered attractive factors for migration.⁹ This paper modestly aims to provide some recommendations for the creation and modification of policies to prevent illegal migration, and the re-integration into society of returned migrants. This is a primary step towards further analyzing the phenomenon of migration. Each data constitutes a source to be studied and to make a more in-depth and profiled analysis, giving others the opportunity to analyze the phenomenon of migration from other perspectives.

Types of Migration and Its Consequences.

Theories have drawn up different classifications of migration. The first division is based on the division of political boundaries. Thus, internal migration involves movement between villages, towns and districts. The other type of migration is transnational migration, defined as migration that occurs across country borders.¹⁰

Another classification of migration is related to social status, points of travel and periodicity of movement. Stepwise migration is the type where the migration is characterized as hierarchical and starts from a small place to a larger area. Thus the person who leaves the country of origin goes to several subsequent destinations. Circular migration involves cyclical migration experiences between country of origin and destination, characterized by at least one migration and return. Migrants divide their time between two locations, spending long periods of time in the country of origin and migration. Seasonal migration is a very common form of migration, which is characterized by high labor demands in a certain period of time in a certain destination, mainly for agriculture. Return migration refers to the repeated return of migrants to their country of origin, voluntarily or not. Chain migration is the type of migration where individuals from specific destinations follow their relatives to migrate.¹¹ An important classification of migration is based on the decision-making approach. Migration is classified as voluntary or involuntary, taking into account several sociopolitical factors, e.g. fear of ill-treatment attributed to race, religion, political affiliation, nationality, being part of social groups, fleeing war, armed conflict, civil war, natural disasters. But they can be man-made; famine or development factors for example, essential infrastructure projects, including airports, roads, dams, seaports, etc. Voluntary migration is based on a person's wishes, initiatives and free choices to live in a better country and improve financial status, among other factors. Involuntary migration occurs when the individual is forced to leave the country of origin due to unfavorable environmental and political situations and conditions.¹² Migration is a complex phenomenon that has an impact on individuals, families, societies, economies and cultures, both in the country of origin and destination. Migration affects the physical, mental, emotional health and well-being of migrants themselves, people in the country of origin and people in the country of destination¹³. People migrate to improve their well-being and often individuals who migrate for economic reasons move to a country more developed in order to have greater material advantages. However, the effects of migration on psychological and emotional well-being are not very clear. The process of moving from one cultural environment to another can be a very stressful process with potentially negative impacts on mental health. According to the World Health Organization,¹⁴migration usually does not improve social well-being, but often results in the exposure of immigrants to social stress and increased risk of mental disorders.¹⁵ Migration, even under the best conditions, whether planned or not, involves a series of events that can be very traumatic, with certain levels of stress and that can put people at risk. The process involves moving away, being separated from family and traditional values, and settling into new social and cultural situations. For many immigrants, social integration is difficult and often impossible. Language problems, culturally different behaviors, the presence of prejudices and discriminations increase the degree of difficulty for integration into social life and adaptation to a new environment. Migrants are affected by social inequalities and are likely to go through several experiences during the migration process, such as legal, social, cultural, economic, behavioral and communication barriers, which harm their physical, mental and social well-being. Besides facing poverty and social exclusion, which have negative impacts on health, the health of migrants is also largely determined by the availability, access, acceptability and quality of services in the host environment.¹⁶ As migration is increasingly becoming part of the lives of many peoples, the health implications of migration and the health of migrants must be recognized as an important issue in health policy making. The social inequalities that exist in any society and between different societies mean that the right to good health is unequally distributed among different population groups. Migrants often find themselves among the individuals most affected by inequality of services.¹⁷ Individual biological, physical, behavioral and social factors, interventions and access to social and health services determine an individual's health. Migrants are likely to experience specific health-related challenges due to the nature of being a migrant. Social determinants of migrant health relate to factors influencing the migration process, reasons for migration, mode of travel, length of stay and migrants' language skills, race, legal status. These determinants of migrant health are complex and interrelated. Immigrants can come from different backgrounds and different situations, and once they immigrate their status often changes dramatically. Different categories of immigrants can have very different experiences. The determinants of migrants' health are shaped by their experiences and situations in countries of origin, transit and destination. Migration itself adds a particular dimension to the social determinants of health, as being a migrant can make people more vulnerable to negative impacts on their health. Migration is not itself a health risk, but the conditions surrounding the migration process can increase health vulnerability.¹⁸ This is especially true for those who migrate involuntarily, in an attempt to escape natural or man-made disasters and human rights violations, and those who find themselves in an irregular situation, such as those who migrate through clandestine or end up in exploitative situations by traffickers.¹⁹ Many migrant workers who lack proper immigration documentation constitute a large and vulnerable group of the population. Migrant workers, in particular undocumented workers, are often involved in dangerous and degrading work, exposing them to occupational hazards, but have no health insurance. It is contrary to notions of social justice that these migrant groups who are at high risk of abuse, exploitation and discrimination have less access to health and social services.²⁰ Health risk factors are often also related to the legal status of migrants, determining the level of access to health and social services. Further contributors include poverty, stigma, discrimination, housing, education, occupational health, social exclusion, gender, language and cultural differences, separation from family and socio-cultural norms.²¹

Theories on Migration.

The first set of contemporary theories designed to 'explain' migration are the neoclassical ones. These theories emphasize that the main reasons that push an individual to migrate are socioeconomic factors. Neoclassical theories are based on wage, employment, labor market demand and supply differences. Neoclassical economic theory presupposes that individuals try to maximize their utility: individuals “search” for the place of residence that maximizes their well-being. This approach to the economics of immigration makes it clear that both, the sending and the receiving country, can have a very large impact on the number and composition of the migratory flow by changing migration policies.²² Basically, all the theories that explain migration run along the same lines: Migration occurs due to demand-pull factors that drive migrants to industrial countries, supply-push factors that push them out of their countries, and the network of friends and relatives already in industrial societies serving as anchor communities for new arrivals. There are a number of economic and social conditions and circumstances related to fulfilling the category of driving factors to migrate.²³ Thus the low economic growth combined with a visible inequality in the distribution of income and its administration, overpopulation of some areas, uncontrolled growth of unemployment, great pressure on property and functional division, armed conflicts, abuse of rights of human beings, discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as natural disasters and ecological destruction are mentioned in the driving factors of migration. Meanwhile, attractive factors are related to security and economic development in the country/area of ​​destination, with the real possibility of employment, as well as the possibility of institutional integration and adaptation²⁴.But, athers authors think otherwise, they explains that with the evolution of the phenomenon of migration, the need for a re-examination of the emotional, psychological and cultural values ​​that accompany moving from one country to another is being noticed more and more. Migrants themselves, in addition to the often positive developments regarding the family or personal economy, are offering in their experiences such feelings as regret, nostalgia, some hesitation and shame. Thanks to the approach of neoclassical theories, migration has been perceived mostly as a complex product of push and pull factors that mainly affect economic units and household incomes, but that paid much less attention to the wider social, cultural and psychological framework , at the national or international level, therefore also welfare in a real plan.²⁵ Before the migration process begins, the matter of choosing to move is not a simple act of moving from a previous place of residence to a new one. In itself, the process of migrating involves much more than a physical movement. Migration is often defined as "one of the historical forces that have shaped the world", or as "an integral part of human behavior", thus referring to the fact that we are dealing with a social phenomenon, as old as human history itself. Movement, as the essence of migration, has been characterized from time to time by diversity and different colors. This term has often been used to describe movements of various kinds, however nowadays the emphasis is mainly placed on voluntary movement, which limits the range of behaviors that can be called "migratory".²⁶

Migration and Albania

Most explanations of mass migration emphasize economic factors. Thus, the need for survival during moments of crisis, but also higher wages and greater and more secure employment opportunities, are causes linked to migration and the economy. In their beginnings, most Albanian migrants thought of migration as a temporary solution, to respond to wrong policies and economic collapse. In the initial conception, Albanian migrants moved from the country to work, earn money elsewhere and to return again.²⁷ Migration is considered to be the most important factor that constitutes the demographic structure of Albania. Many researchers ²⁸suggest that economic reasons are the first among the factors that cause migration. Although the Albanian economy showed some improvements in recent years, there are often large fluctuations that cause waves of migration. In this case, it is possible to say that migration will continue to be influential in shaping the demographics of the country. This is because migration has been seen and continues to be considered as the best way of coping with the economic conditions of the country²⁹. The lack of freedom in all its dimensions has been one of the other reasons for migration. The second motive is related to freedom and personal self-expression. Interviews with immigrants and future immigrants have shown that the country of origin evokes feelings similar to life in prison. Research by Nicola Mai revealed that young Albanians could only 'find themselves' by emigrating; they imagine their future self-realization as attainable only outside Albania. Emigration is seen as a way out of the miserable and boring life in Albania, characterized by the difficulties of working (and, after 1990, finding work), the lack of resources and material goods, the denial of free time, the lack of of pleasures and away from control and supervision. In this form, emigration also became a strategy of political resistance against an extremely authoritarian political culture.³⁰ The events of 1989-1991 in Eastern Europe marked a new phase of migration in Europe. The political transformation of the communist regimes also brought about a transformation in migratory dynamics. The isolated citizens already sought to be free citizens and exercise their right to leave and migrate, especially to Western European countries.³¹ Radical changes took place in Albania as well. Social and economic transformation of the country happened rapidly in a short time. The first distinguishing feature is the extreme transformation of the economy and politics, from a centralized economy to a neoliberal economy. The second distinguishing element of the post-communist Albanian transformation is the high rate of migration. Albania and its population have been significantly affected by this phenomenon since the beginning of the 1990s. A dominant trend has been that of Albanian citizens emigrating mainly to rich countries in Europe, but also to North America and Australia. Although, the main recorded waves are in the 1990s and 2000s, emigration from Albania continues today.³² Albanian migration flows have been the result of several push and pull factors that operate at the individual, family, community and national level, and have changed over time. Researchers divide the evolution of Albanian migration since 1990 into four periods. The first period, beginning with the fall of the communist government, was from 1990 to 1992. Immigration was officially banned during the communist regime, and the initial political instability, social unrest, and economic decline associated with the fall of the government led to an increase in international migration. Between 1993 and 1996, persistent poverty, unemployment, a declining public sector, poor access to public services, weak infrastructure, wage differentials, and rapid development and economic rates in neighboring countries brought back the wave of migration. At the end of 1996, the collapse of a number of pyramid schemes caused another period of international migration.³³ Thus, the estimates of Albanians living abroad in 2001 are in the range of 600,000-700,000 or about one fifth of the resident population. These results are high numbers, for a country where international migration is a relatively recent phenomenon.³⁴ Albania's sudden and rapid migration became one of the most dramatic flows in the 'new European migration map' of the 1990s. But this was not the first time in their history that Albanians had emigrated. Historical documents on the demographic movements of the Albanian population before 1945 are not many and should be considered with reservations anyway. Data on this phenomenon are usually obtained from historical books or the diaries of various travelers who have traveled through this territory, which are not always complete and documentary reliability.³⁵ During the years under the communist regime, Albania took a series of measures to stop migration. Attempts to leave were punished with years in prison and were considered the greatest treason against the motherland. Increasing sentiment of patriotism, use of barbed wire fences, strong surveillance of land and sea border points were other forms of deterring migration).³⁶ The propagandist view also emphasized the negative human consequences of Albanian emigration - the tragedy of departure, the uncertainty and discomfort of long journeys, the tragedy of the woman left behind or the difficulties of adapting to strange places. The concept of curves was used strongly, emphasizing the negative connotations it carried, such as separation, tears, suffering, loss and destruction. As a result of all the preventive measures, the restriction of travel, the ban on the practice of external or internal migration, between the years 1950 and 1989 only about 20,000 people managed to leave Albania.³⁷ Albanian emigration represents the largest departure compared to the population of any country that has faced economic transition. According to estimates, on average every family had at least one of its members in emigration. In the Albanian context, emigration is seen not only as a social element, but also as very important economically. According to UNDP, Albania is a country very dependent on remittances, which have been growing and in most cases have exceeded the amount of foreign investments, exports or aid received from international institutions. ³⁸The first period of Albanian migration took place in the mid-1990s, when about 5,000 Albanians, frustrated by travel bans abroad, entered some of the Western embassies in Tirana. The chaos of Albania's first democratic elections led to the first exodus to southern Italy in March 1991 where 25,000 migrants were accepted and settled in Italy. The second exodus took place in August, but most of the 20,000 arrivals were repatriated. The Italian authorities argued that while the 'first wave' migrants could be treated as refugees due to the tense political situation, the 'second wave' followed democratic elections and therefore could not be granted refugee status. Meanwhile, a large-scale but unaccounted for exodus took place in Greece, where many young men were crossing the southern mountains to find hope blocked for decades.³⁹ Thus during the years 1991-93 it was estimated that 300,000 Albanians left the country, the vast majority to Greece and Italy. Images of overcrowded ships bound for Brindisi and Bari have become part of the iconography of the mass migration of the Albanian people.⁴⁰ Another important moment for migration includes the year 1997, where the collapse of the pyramid system, supported mainly by remittances from immigrants, financially destroyed a large part of Albanian families.⁴¹ In the first months of 1997, the collapse of pyramid schemes where private savings were invested, led to a period of political and economic turmoil, also marked by civil war. This chaos produced another exodus. Initially 10,600 Albanians were accepted by Italy, but then migrations by sea were repelled in tragic circumstances, especially on March 29, 1997, where as a result of a collision between an Italian coastal ship and a boat with Albanian migrants, 87 people, many of them whose women and children lost their lives.

Conclusions.

Albania has known since the beginning of the post-socialist transition one of the largest contemporary migratory processes in the world in terms of size (as a percentage of the current population) and intensity of international migration.⁴² Albanian migration continues and, in all likelihood, will continue even in the future. This conclusion is based on the limited statistics for current flows and which show that the intention to migrate has increased from 44% of the population surveyed in 2007 to 52% in 2018. Consequently, Albania, although at the end of its third decade of international migration, is still far from completing the transition of its migratory and equally far from a situation where the migratory balance may mark the beginning of a transition towards a country with a significant level of immigration. Despite the fact that the two neighboring countries, Greece and Italy, continue to be the main countries where Albanian migration is concentrated, their relative importance in the future will decrease. Germany and the USA are currently the most desired countries for Albanian migration in the future. These changes in the driving factors and geography of Albanian international migration are also reflected in the sociodemographic structure and the quality of its flows. Young people in their late 20s, the most educated and qualified, the employed and those with medium and high incomes are more willing to migrate. While almost a decade ago, young people in their early 20s, with a lower educational and professional level, the unemployed and those with low income wanted to migrate more. Consequently, Albania will be affected even more in the future by the phenomenon of migration of brains and qualified persons, which will have negative consequences. Meanwhile, even returned migrants, whose return curve peaked in the years 2010-2013 (Greek economic crisis) and 2016-2017 (asylum-seekers rejected by Germany), want to migrate more than those who have not been in migration. This, on the one hand, shows that the process of their re-integration has not been successful.⁴³ On the other hand, it shows that the country did not know how to properly use their financial, human and social capitals for the development of the country's economy. If migration continues, efforts should be made to manage it in such a way as to minimize its negative consequences (disorderly departure, brain drain, exploitation), and maximize its positive impacts (productive use of migrants' remittances, modernizing impact of social remittances, ties to homeland, return from migration, brain gain, etc.). Based on the increasing educational profile of potential migrants, opportunities can be seen for agreements between countries regarding the regulated migration of skilled persons, always keeping in mind the risks of brain drain and skills. This policy suggestion is made because skilled migrants (through higher remittance savings, investment, and greater human and social capital) contribute more, when they return, to themselves, the country of origin and the host country (a triple -win situation). Consequently, the prior education and training of potential migrants (taking into account the labor market requirements of the EU countries) can be an alternative, which can also be achieved through a close cooperation with the host country.

References