Amartya Sen: Migration Integral to Globalisation and Human Progress

Migration and Globalisation Latest News

• Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, during an interaction with students in Kolkata on August 22, 2025, highlighted that migration is essential to globalisation and has historically driven human progress. 
• He further stressed that diversity is the foundation of Indian society, fostering genuine growth and development for the nation and its people.

Linkages Between Migration and Globalisation

• Migration is both a cause and consequence of globalisation. It represents the mobility of people across and within borders in search of opportunities shaped by global economic changes.
• While often portrayed as problematic, migration contributes significantly to sustainable development. 
• In poorer regions, remittances improve household security and support local economies, while in ageing industrial societies, migrant workers fill labour shortages and sustain welfare systems.

Migration and Global Economic Changes

• International Migration: Driven by global restructuring of labour markets, especially demand for semi-skilled and unskilled workers in developed countries. 
  • Migrants often find employment in informal sectors such as textiles, construction, and agriculture.
• Internal Migration: Linked to relocation of industries and tourism growth in the Global South, where rural workers, especially women, migrate for low-paying but vital jobs. 
  • Migration is also a path for youth to gain independence and exposure.

Contributions of Migrants

• Economic Support: Remittances are critical for household survival, investment in agriculture, housing, and local enterprises.
• Skill Transfer: Returning migrants bring new skills and open non-farm opportunities if adequate infrastructure exists.
• Social Impact: Migration fosters cultural exchange and reshapes community expectations, especially for women and youth seeking autonomy.

Key Challenges

• Restrictive Policies: Immigration controls often strengthen illegal smuggling networks and exploitative employers, rather than addressing underlying labour market needs.
• Exclusion from Urban Services: Internal migrants face difficulties in accessing housing, healthcare, and education due to restrictive policies.
• Informal Labour Exploitation: Many undocumented migrants work under poor conditions with limited rights and protections.
• Unequal Benefits: Skilled migrants earn more and invest productively, while unskilled migrants face lower incomes and limited capacity to send remittances.
• Gender Disparities: Women migrants often face social pressures but can be strong agents of change where they have access to land and resources.

Policy Imperatives

• The report stresses that migration should be recognised as both a choice and a contributor to development, not merely a problem to be controlled. 
• Policies must:
  • Protect migrants’ rights and improve working conditions.
  • Support productive use of remittances through training and infrastructure.
  • Ensure equitable access to resources, especially for women.
  • Reduce structural constraints that force people into migration as the only survival strategy.

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Amartya Sen on Migration and Diversity

• During an interaction with students in Kolkata, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen underscored that migration is fundamental to globalisation and has historically driven human progress. 
• He explained that cultural, linguistic, scientific, and artistic advancements—such as the repeated Arabic translations of Brahmagupta’s mathematical works—reflect migration’s role in collaboration and knowledge-sharing. 
• Stressing that “almost nothing would happen” without the movement of people, Sen noted that migration enriches societies through food, music, culture, and ideas. 
• He also highlighted that diversity forms the bedrock of Indian society, enabling true growth of the nation and its people. 
• His remarks come amid recent attacks on migrants from West Bengal in other states, which have caused livelihood losses.

Conclusion

• Migration is deeply linked with globalisation and has long been central to human survival and progress. 
• Its contributions to economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development are undeniable. 
• However, without supportive policies, migrants remain vulnerable to exploitation, exclusion, and inequality. 
• Recognising their role and safeguarding their rights is essential to harness migration as a force for inclusive global development.

Source: TH | IIED