Structure of the study
Object and research approach
This study, written in Italian, is the outcome of an ideal journey undertaken to analyze migration policies of the big host countries. In its English translation, its title is "Immigration: should we welcome it or contain it?" and comprises three separate volumes:
Volume I: “On current policies to contain immigration"
Volume II: “Challenges and potentials”
Volume III: "Searching new directions: international debate on migration"
This study responds to the question about whether to welcome or oppose immigration from developing countries by providing a deep analysis of all aspects of the migration phenomenon, so as to verify the existence of possible solutions open to those immigrants, including irregular immigrants, bypassing the dichotomy between economic migrants and refugees.
A study that suggests a greater opening to welcome immigrants of this type represents a real provocation. However, the author has not avoided facing this challenge. This study does not neglect any aspects of migration, including harsher and more controversial themes currently under discussion. It makes use, when necessary, of a historical and socio-political analysis of the migration process, debunking, whenever it was possible, preconceived motivations and fake information, overcoming biased ideologies.
This study does not offer operational proposals to address problems of specific countries but presents a general reflection on background issues. Its suggestions draw from the international debate, the recommendations of the "Global Compact on Migration" and the experience of organizations and local communities involved in welcoming immigrants.
This is not an academic study but refers to the specialized literature for further analysis. It is not meant to offer statistical information or be used as a source for quantitative data on migration, even though occasionally it provides quantitative information on migration. In general, it refers to authoritative sources available nationally and internationally to obtain up-to-date quantitative information.
This study is addressed to all those that wish to have an exhaustive tool, with a correct and clear conceptual approach to migration. It is intended for those that aim at shaping educational efforts in this area based on an accurate analysis and knowledge of the various facets of the migration problems, or those that expect to operate in this domain and need to better orient their actions and projects.
The migration problematique is continuously enriched by new events and new measures decided by governments. This study does not provide comments on what happens daily in this domain, nor it offers solutions to specific problems linked to current events. It could not play such a role, since it is based on information available at the time of its publication (2022). Moreover, its intent is not solving specific problems that emerge daily in migration but offering a logical framework, based on a systemic analysis of the migration problems, which has originated conceptual reflections that may be valid even for those that follow current events, and are in need to make concrete decisions on specific facts. The approach adopted by this study may thus be useful even in the context of new events, offering the conceptual reflections required to face all problems linked to migration in a coherent logical framework.
The reflections suggested in this study have an exclusively cultural and political intent to increase awareness among those that care for the tragedies of our world and intend to undertake a serious rethinking on what to do to improve migration policies. It is on this basis that this study suggests a few key pillars on which it is possible to build a new operational approach which may gradually open to better welcome immigrants.
Where to purchase the publication
Title of the work : IMMIGRAZIONE: ACCOGLIMENTO O CONTENIMENTO? by Massimo D’Angelo
(English translation of the title: "Immigration: should we welcome it or contain it?")
The individual volumes can be ordered through Amazon at:
amazon.com or amazon.it (depending on the reader's residence).
Volume I: Sulle politiche di contenimento dell’immigrazione nel mondo attuale
(in English: "On current policies to contain immigration")
(first edition published in May 2022, second edition, fully revised, published in November 2022)
- 373 pages
Price $ 12.10 or € 12,48 (plus shipping) for the paperback version
Volume II: Sfide e potenzialità
(in English: "Challenges and potentials")
(first edition published in August 2022) - 427 pages
Price $ 12.10 or € 12,48 (plus shipping) for the paperback version
Volume III: Cercando nuove direzioni: dibattito internazionale sull’immigrazione
(in English: "Looking for new directions: international debate on migration")
(first edition published in October 2022) - 350 pages
Price $ 11.96 or € 12,48 (plus shipping) for the paperback version
The three volumes are available also in Kindle format.
The three volumes contain hundreds of endnotes, which are useful to support the validity of the suggested observations and provide possible further in-depth analysis.
It is also available a summary of the whole study in pdf and a separate index for each volume (also in pdf). Those that are interested may get them free of charge, submitting a request as indicated in the "Contacts" page in this site.
The themes for each volume
Volume I
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On current policies to contain immigration
A Marshall Plan for migration?
Policies to contain immigration vs. policies open to immigration
Role of international cooperation to reduce the pressure from migration
Comparison between regular immigrants, irregular immigrants, and refugees
Criminalization of irregular immigrants
Protection of national security and containment of irregular immigration
Measures to detain irregular immigrants and their treatment in jurisdictional procedures
Discriminations and other constraints for irregular immigrants
Narco-traffic and irregular immigrants
Fight against irregular migrant smuggling
Fight against human trafficking vs. fight again migrant smuggling
Immigration and terrorism
Externalization of borders and involvement of third countries in the policies to contain irregular immigration
European measures to control sea crossing of irregular immigrants in the Mediterranean
Cooperation agreement between the European Union and Turkey for the externalization of the European border: a critical assessment
Border externalization in Libya: European initiatives
History of cooperation between Italy and Libya to control the traffic of irregular immigrants, from the Benghazi treaty to the current situation
Externalization of Spanish borders in Morocco
The role of NGOs in rescue operations to support immigrants
Closing Italian ports to immigrants rescued in the Mediterranean: the controversy
Volume II
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Challenges and potentials
Who is the migrant and why does he/she migrate?
Economic migrant
Causes to migrate from developing countries
Migration, socio-economic structures in the countries of origin and the host countries, globalization, and social imbalances in the countries of origin
Migration for non-economic factors
Migration for compelling needs and fragility in the country of origin
Right to emigrate, right to immigrate or right to international mobility
Autonomy of migration and inevitability of migration
Benefits from migration: contribution to productivity and aggregate demand
Impact of migration on labor market in the growing phase and declining phase
Structural changes, segmentation of the labor market and immigration
Post-industrial development, tertiarization and immigration
Complementarity and substitutability of migrants and national workers
Demographic transition, aging of population and immigration
Migration and brain drain
Migrant remittances vs official development aid
The main obstacle to immigration: psychological preventions, perceptions and racism
Manipulating information and prejudices against immigrants: their influence on political orientations
Fear and hate culture vs hosting culture
Volume III
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Looking for new directions:
international debate on migration
The “crisis of migration controls” and the “liberal paradox” of migration policies
The model of migration without borders and its ethical foundation for an extension of the right to migrate
Right to international mobility, human rights and right to development
Are human rights applicable only to resident population or also to migrants?
A “negotiated” approach to the right to immigrate as a “bargained right”
Debate on the rights of foreign workers and the 1990 international convention
High-level Dialogue at the UN General Assembly and the 2016 New York Summit: the New York Declaration
The launch of the “Global Compact on Migration” and its formulation
Critical analysis of the “Global Compact on Migration” and the international reactions
The pursuit of “regular migration”: the solutions of the Global Compact, the missing points, and alternative suggestions (focus on vulnerable immigrants and absorption in the labor market)
The pursuit of the “orderly migration”: the suggestions of the Global Compact
An alternative to pursue an “orderly migration”: programming in migration policy
The pursuit of a “safe migration” according to the Global Compact
The missing chapter: a coherent program for a “safe migration”
Implementation and monitoring mechanisms of the Global Compact on Migration
The positive contribution of the Global Compact on Migration to the search for a “third way” to migration policy
International debate on refugees: from the 1951 Geneva convention to the current controversies
The Global Compact on Refugees: analysis of its contents and criticisms