" Global Immigration Strategies "

Welcome Back fellow Tolerance Troops,

In this edition we'll tackle "Global Immigration Strategies" and explore the underlying reasons causing these human migration patterns from both the developed world and developing world perspectives.  

From almost the inception of our species, humans have always migrated. Unlike other top predators Homo sapiens developed an innate desire to expand and explore their territory while at the same time developing new ways to control their environment. Other top predators and primates did not have this ability, so they have been relagated to instinctual territorial exploration and control. Their existance depends mainly on external non-controllable factors such as food supply and water. If their territories develop shortages of food or water, then top predators and primates will adjust their migration patterns to find more abundant supplies. This is the only motivating factor in the expansion or exploration of other species. 

Humans have evolved other mechanisms that motivate migration. We have developed self awareness and an insatiable curiosity, along with a problem solving brain. Somewhere along our evolutionary path we developed language skills and started identifying and categorizing everything in our conscious experience, including other humans. In our most primitive form we were strictly hunter gatherers. Then as we started migrating out of Africa into other parts of the world we started cooperating and specializing. No longer did we just congregate in and defend small family groups. The farther away from Africa we migrated and the longer we stayed in new environments, the more we started assimilating and adapting to our new realities. We started forming extended social groups with organized dominant heirarchys.

Some humans stopped migrating and began to exploit their environments by forming Agrarian societies and planting crops. Instead of natural or temporary shelters people started building permanant shelters. These societies started to domesticate and subordinate other animal species to help in this effort. As these societies became more complex and specialized, they developed local dialects, as well as spiritual and secular customs unique to their particular locations. These dialects and customs helped to identify the members of a particular group.  

As each group grows and matures its societal customs, they begin to trade and develope commerce with other groups from different locations. Trade and commerce agreements are reached, but each side interprets the agreements by its own language and customs. These agreements, whether oral or written plant the seeds of dischord. One group seeks advantage over another and conflict is born. Some groups become successful from conflict and these groups then exploit the goods and services of the conquered group and subjugate its society. Often mandating replacement of the subjugating society's spiritual ands secular customs and institutions with the conquering society's own customs and institutions.

Just as some groups are more successful than others, some individuals in a group are more successful than others. The individual may have developed skills that may be incongruent with his or her current group and more suited to another group. Or an individual may not have the skill set to adequately provide for his or her family in their current highly specialized group but may be able to support the family in a less specialized group. In both cases, the migrating individual and their families will be forced to adapt to new societal lanquages and customs if they are to become successful in their adopted groups.

Ultimately it is the drive to become successful that motivates human beings from developing societies to migrate to developed societies.  

On the other hand there are several motivating factors for migration from a developed society to a developing one. Let's take a look at some of these. One reason an individual may want to migrate to a developing society is to deconstruct a well ordered life and to live a simpler lifestyle. Often this reason is personal and or spiritual and does not involve other family members. It may involve going back to a conquered group that this individual or his or her family migrated away from, to reconnect with that groups spiritual and secular customs. Or it may involve occasional respites from developed societies to rest and reinvigorate themselves. This is why public policy in developing societies often include activities and institutions that attract income from developed societies. 

Another reason is for exploitation and profit.  Individuals or groups migrate to developing societies to take advantage of local resources, which often are more readily available and easier to access than in developed societies. Rules are often less restrictive, and though the odds against success are longer, the rewards from exploitation of developing societies can be far greater.  

In our next edition we'll explore male-female interpersonal dynamics, and conflict resolution strategies.  

Yours in Humanity,

Phillip Sr.