TEMPORARY MIGRATION: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The temporary migration is one in which a geographical shift is performed for a specific period of time, then return to the place of origin. It can be individual or group and generally occurs for economic, educational, political or social reasons.

The most common example is that of people who travel to other cities or countries to work or study, after which they return to their former region of residence. However, the reasons may be economic, recreational, political, catastrophic or warlike.

Temporary migration usually has effects and consequences, both in the society of origin and in that of destination. Source: pixabay.com

When it is cyclical, this transitory change is called seasonal migration. The best known case is that of field workers who move to agrarian areas at harvest time and then return to their villages of origin until the next period.

On the other hand, temporary migration can also refer to the movement of animals in search of better climates or more food at certain times of the year.

This type of migration differs from permanent migration, which is one that is carried out with the idea of ​​permanently settling in a place.

Etymological definition

The word “migration” comes from the Latin “migratĭo” which means “action and effect of migrating”. It is made up of the components "migrare", which can be translated as "change residence" or "move" and the suffix "-ción", understood as "action or effect".

For its part, the term "temporal" comes from the Latin "temporālis", which means "belonging to or relative to time." It is made up of the components "tempus", referred to "time, duration or period" and the suffix "-alis", which can be translated as "relative to".

Characteristics of temporary migration

Temporary migration has two main characteristics: the first is that it implies a geographical displacement to another place and the second is that this movement is transitory.

This time limitation means that the move is not final and that the ultimate goal is to return to the place of origin once the task or reason that triggers the trip is completed.

When this migration is massive, it usually has effects and consequences, both in the society of origin and in that of destination.

Effects on the company of origin

In the society of origin, it is generally understood that this transfer is positive, since the move is usually to more economically stable and strong regions, where it is possible to earn more money. This helps mitigate overcrowding and joblessness problems.

In turn, migrants often send part of what they earn to their family members who remain, helping to support them. In addition, when they return they are usually more trained due to the experience acquired.

As for the negative effects, the most important is the social one, since this separation can damage affective relationships and cause problems between its members. In the same way, for the person who suffers from uprooting it can be difficult to cope, even if it is for a certain period of time.

Effects on the destination company

In the target society there may also be positive and negative consequences. Among the latter are often mentioned increased job competition, falling wages and a decline in the quality of social services.

Meanwhile, among the former, the coverage of the labor shortage, a better development of the economy and productive work and an increase in consumption stand out.

In turn, migrant workers are a workforce in which the destination has not had to invest in their growth and training, and which in turn will not imply social costs in the future, since by then they will be free. return to their places of origin.

Examples of temporary migration

The most common example of temporary migration is that of people who travel to other cities to work or study and then return to their place of origin. Source: pixabay.com

Temporary migration can occur for different reasons. Among the most common are economic, political, educational, family, recreational, military causes and those related to natural catastrophes.

Economic causes

It is the most common reason and the typical example is that of people who travel for a certain period to other cities and countries to work, looking for better opportunities and wages.

Political causes

This is the case of people who leave their countries for a time, either due to persecution or due to crisis situations in which their rights are not respected, as happened in Spain during the Civil War or in Argentina during the military dictatorship.. This exile can be forced or voluntary.

In turn, diplomats who go to work abroad are also an example of temporary migration for political reasons.

Educational causes

This is the case of people who go to study a career in another city or country and then return once they are trained. Also that of exchange students.

Family causes

This is the case of people who travel temporarily to another place to visit their relatives or children of separated parents who live in different cities and reside for a time with each one.

Recreational causes

This is the case of people who travel to another city for tourism or to attend a certain event or show.

War causes

Sometimes war conflicts trigger the temporary displacement of people fleeing the consequences and dangers of war.

Natural disasters

They are the temporary migrations produced by earthquakes, floods, droughts, epidemics, tsunamis, cyclones, volcanic eruptions, pollution and other catastrophic situations.

Temporary migration of animals

Examples of temporary animal migrations include swallows, storks, elephants, wildebeests, whales, and penguins that move from one region to another during a certain time of year.

These movements are usually in groups in search of better climates, greater availability of food, to flee from predators or to mate in less dangerous areas.

Birds use the winds to help them travel, while fish and amphibians take advantage of water currents.

Some surprising cases are those of tern birds, which travel about 71,000 kilometers from the Arctic to the Antarctic; the tailed needles, which travel 11,500 kilometers from Alaska to New Zealand; and sardines, which swim 1,500 kilometers along the coast of South Africa in search of warmer waters.

Among insects, monarch butterflies cover about 5,000 kilometers in their migrations, while the mammal that makes the longest annual journey is the North American caribou or reindeer, which travels more than 4,800 kilometers.

References

1. Farrel, Gilda (1985). Temporary migration and urban work. Andean World Collection.
2. European Migration Network (2011). Temporary and circular migration: empirical evidence, current policies and future options in the Member States of the European Union.
3. International Labor Organization (ILO). Social protection for migrant workers. Available at: www.ilo.org
4. Human migration, Wikipedia. Available at: wikipedia.org
5. National Geographic. The toughest animal migrations on the planet. Available at: nationalgeographic.es
6. Etymological dictionary. Available at: etimologias.dechile.net