Since the Arab revolution, there has been a continuous increase in migrants who are fleeing the war-tone and destabilized regions of Africa and the Middle East. One picture that captured the crisis was in the year 2015 that showed the picture of the three-year-old boy Alan Kurdi Who was found on the beach drowned and washed up near Bogrum which is a Turkish town. The boy and family include some of the many people who used overcrowded boats to cross the Mediterranean as they flee the war-torn areas. According to some commentators, the situation has become one of the greatest humanitarian crises that the globe has known (Dragostinova, 2016).
The Immigration crises
Europe is facing the most serious refugee crisis since the World War II, which is stretching the economic resources, increases the risk of radical politics, and strains the various post-war institutions that have been created with the aim of keeping the continent as a whole and at peace. It is estimated that millions of migrants managed to reach the EU in the year 2015 and thousands still follow them every year despite the dangerous journey that faces them.
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Current Report on the immigration crisis
Reports in November 2016 by the guardian indicate an increase in the number of asylum seekers who have reached Italy as compared to last year. It is estimated that approximately 171,000 people have reached Italy from the north of Africa from the start of the year. The number was more than what was recorded in the year 2014 that was 170,000. The report indicates that the flow of migration in the eastern parts of the Mediterranean, between Greece and Turkey, have been reduced drastically because of improvements in the Turkish police work, the closure of the humanitarian corridor that is between German and Greece, and an increase in the amount of deportation from Greece. However, according to the reports, the strategy has failed to cut migration through the central Mediterranean between Italy and Libya. The route has become the main migration way into Europe. The report indicates that most migrants who are bound to Europe are fleeing dictatorship, wars, and poverty. They mainly come from countries that include Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan, and Eritrea.
Syrians mainly flee to Europe because of terrorism. It has had a negative effect, especially, in Europe where people have seen a constant flow of refugees running from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS or ISIL). ISIS has been linked with acts that go against the human right that leave people with no option but to run to Europe. However, Syrians are noted not to be using the Libyan route because of the breakdown of law and order in the country that has even made the living conditions of the foreign workers in the country to be worse. The country has also reported conditions that have amounted to slave labor. Other people have been tortured and even kidnapped for ransom.
The report's analysis of the immigration crises
The report has further analyzed the crisis and has tried to indicate the number of people who have been forced to migrate from their homes to Europe. According to the report, it is estimated that approximately 171,000 people have reached Italy from the north of Africa from the start of the year. It is mainly attributed to approximately 1.4 million people who have been displaced in the north-eastern parts Nigeria because of being forced to flee their homes by Boko Haram. It is also assumed that this reality would contribute to a continuous level of migration crisis in Europe even in the future. However, only 3.3% of Africans who have been displaced go to Europe. Approximately 93% remain within the home continent (Kingsley, 2016). Apart from Africa, migrants also reach Europe from Syria as the civil war in the country continues. There has even been an increase in the number of migrants in 2016 as compared to 2015.
Analysis Using Sociological Concepts
The migration crisis has gotten much attention not only in Europe but the whole world. It has dominated the current events around the world that has dominated the news today . The assumption is that the migration crisis is as a result of the conditions of regions where the migrants are coming from. The assumption is in line with the social constructionism, the social concept, or the social construction of reality theory ( Giddens, 2006 ) . It is a theory in sociology that aims at examining the development of an understanding of the world that are jointly constructed and which forms the basis for assumptions that are shared about reality. The migrants move from their homes to Europe because they consider Europe to be safe, wealthy, and because it has more opportunity as compared to their home countries. It is according to the theory of social stratification.
Social stratification is a system in which the society ranks certain people in a hierarchy. In this case, considering the conflicts that occur in regions where the refugees come from, Europe is often considered to be greater because it has greater status, it is safer, and offers better opportunities than areas such as Syria. The difference between Africa together with the war-tone region of the Middle East and Europe has resulted in social stratification. Social stratification is usually based on four main principles that include the fact that it persists over a generation . It also involves inequality and beliefs. Social stratification is considered to be a trait of the society and not just individual differences. Finally, it is considered to be universal but variable because even though it happens all over, it still takes various forms in different societies. From the report, it is clear that Europe has tried to control the flow of immigrants by tightening its border using the concept of social control. Social control is regarded as the way people’s appearance, thoughts, and behavior are regulated by rules, norms, social structures, and rules. The social control is vital in ensuring that there is order in the society. Evidently, the lack of social control is what has made Libya become unsafe for not only immigrants but also foreign workers.
The discussion on the current event is incomplete without analyzing the crime because it is the main reason why people move from their home country ( Andersen, 2008). The society often sees crimes including robbery as an act of defiance. The actions break the law and the norms, thus making immigrants to flee their homes.
Conclusion
The Arab revolution resulted in a continuous increase in migrants who are fleeing the war-tone and destabilized regions of Africa and the Middle East. It is estimated that approximately 171,000 people have reached Italy from the north of Africa from the start of the year. Thousands more have been coming from Syria on a continuous basis. The migration crisis has gotten much attention not only in Europe but the whole world. The assumption is that Europe is a better place which is in line with the social constructionism, the social concept, or the social construction of reality theory. Using the s ocial stratification , it is evident that the immigrants want better lives in Europe. They consider Europe greater because it has greater status, it is safer and offers better opportunities than areas such as Syria.
References
Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2008). Sociology: Understanding a diverse society . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Giddens, A., & Griffiths, S. (2006). Sociology . Cambridge, UK [u.a.: Polity Press.
Kingsley, P. (2016, 11 28). 2016 sets new record for asylum seekers reaching Italy by boat . Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/28/2016-sets-new-record-for-asylum-seekers-reaching-italy-by-boat
