For years, the debate over migration has divided global politics, and now the divide seems even wider than ever. The media show almost weekly images of dangerous crossings on the Mediterranean and politicians promise to curb the influx of migrants and asylum seekers. Others argue that, on the contrary, we desperately need immigrants to stimulate growth and innovation. But what are the facts behind the headlines, politicians' claims and the decisions they make?
What is the real state of migration? Prof. Dr. Hein de Haas conducted more than 30 years of research and, in the lecture and book, How Migration Really Works, dispenses with both left-wing and right-wing migration myths. Are the horror stories about human smugglers and the harsh conditions in the application center Ter Apel true? Does migration cost the state treasury billions of euros or is it not all that bad? And how many migrants are there actually and where do they come from?
Prof. Dr. Hein de Haas is Professor of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam and author of the book Hoe migratie echt werkt (2023, Spectrum). He has been a leading international expert on migration for many years. He worked as a researcher and, to date, still serves as director for the International Migration Institute (IMI) at the University of Oxford, which he co-founded. He is also Endowed Professor of Migration and Development at Maastricht University.
This Lecture was organized by Studium Generale
