The Effect of Migration, Immigration, and Emigration on Religion, Women, and Minorities - Research Paper Example

?Migration, Immigration, and Emigration, and their Effects on Religion, Women, and Minorities in the Developing World : Module Title: Module No: Submission Date: Abstract The present paper looks for estimating the effects of immigration from and migration to Egypt on the life and activities of the people. In addition, the paper also concentrates upon the role played by women in the development of the Egyptian economy. The culture and civilization of the country under-analysis has also been discussed in the paper along with the impact of religious belief and ethno-racial background of the Egyptians. Hence, the paper provides a brief outline of the influence of migration with the social, cultural, religious and economic viewpoint of the country. The Paper Egypt serves as one of the most influential and prosperous countries of the entire African continent. Her splendid geographical position, magnificent historical background, rich cultural heritage, sound economic structure and imperative political role in the strategic affairs of the region have earned a distinguished and respectable place for her in the international arena. Being a commercial hub and a significant trade junction, people arrive here from all parts of the continent in order to establish their business and get involved into the activities related to trade and commerce on the one hand, and in search of job and employment on the other. The most important aspect of the country is her geographical location, as Egypt is situated at the junction of three continents including Asia, Europe and Africa. At one side, she appears to be the leader of Africa community, and on the other side, Egypt looks engaged in presenting the case of the Middle East problems. Similarly, she also represents the Islamic world at different occasions, which proves her significance as the representative of several most important regional, religious and political communities of the world. It is therefore, the Egyptian people have developed social and commercial ties with the Asian and European traders, corporate firms and companies. “Occupying a focal geographic bridge linking Africa and Asia, contemporary Egypt is the inheritor of a civilization dating back more than 6,000 years. Egypt’s strategic location has made it the object of numerous conquests: by the Ptolemies, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Fatimids, Mamluks, Ottomans, and Napoleon Bonaparte. (Platan & Teal, 2001:1) Though, divergent invaders entered Egypt and subjugated her population by capturing the land, wealth and resources of this ancient civilization, yet the country maintained its identity and distinction as the independent state of the world. It is mistakenly viewed that several ethno-racial groups live in Egypt; however, an overwhelming majority of the masses is Egyptian by race. Egypt has not been famous in history for his magnificent emperors and pharaohs of ancient eras only; rather, the architecture of ancient Egypt also makes it a remarkable society of ancient world. The Egyptian pyramids are included in the Seven Wonders existing on the face of the earth. Besides, her strong economy and established infrastructure have also turned the country an attractive place particularly for the people, belonging to southern, central and western parts of the continent, who arrive Egypt in the same manner as the masses from developed Middle East and Far Eastern countries proceed to Europe in search of superior living standard and career jobs as well. Thus, Egypt is one of the most migrated countries of Africa, where perhaps few countries including South Africa, Nigeria and others surpass her in the area of migration into the country. However, the Egyptians have developed popular trend of immigration to the southern Europe and the Middle East states particularly Brunei and the UAE. Actually, immigration to Egypt has religious background too, where in ancient time Prophet Joseph was forced to migrate as a child by his brothers, who had thrown him into a well. However, the entire House of Jacob, under the command of Prophet Jacob, migrated to Egypt from Canaan. The later generations of the House of Jacob became the victim of slavery, and Moses freed them from the life of humiliation and misery, and the children of Israel again immigrated to Canaan from Egypt for good. The trend of immigration to the developed countries has been in vogue in modern world, and people from every part of the Earth migrate to North America, Europe and Australia in search of better job, education, business and health opportunities. The same is the case with Egypt as it is estimated that hundreds of Egyptian citizens enter central Europe via Italy every year. “The Egyptian workers are able to integrative effectively and positively in the new communities when they join those communities in a proper and legal way, the minister asserted, citing the fact that no complaints were filed against Egyptian workers in Italy over the last decade.” (Kuna, 2009) There was a time when immigration to Egypt was the dream of inhabitants belonging to Asian states. Somehow, decline in economic stability during 1950s onward decreased the trend to an imperative extent. “Migration has always been an important part of Egypt’s history. Until the mid-1950s, Egypt was largely a country of immigration. But increasing economic pressures and high rates of population growth converted Egypt into a country of emigration, coinciding with the oil boom in the Arab Gulf countries and the resulting demand for manpower.” (migrationdrc.org) Poverty and joblessness are regarded as the most dominant factors behind immigration. The youth travels wide to the remote regions of Europe and North America from Egypt in the pursuit of employment or even labor work in order to keep the wolf from the door. “For many years, poverty was seen as a root cause of migration, and development the solution for unwanted migration” (IOM, 2005:194). Since developed countries always offer wide range of jobs to the individuals, because of their established corporate structure and presence of multinational and local companies, the organizations announce vacancies against various positions time and again. Immigrants have added their share in the strengthening of the Egyptian economy by regularly sending money in the form of remittance from the USA and Europe, which is utilized in the development programs. “In economic and financial terms, the most important aspect of migration for the sending country is remitted money (usually cash transfers and goods), the so-called remittances that migrant workers sent back to family or friends at home. Such flows of wealth are important to both the families of migrants and to the economy of sending countries.” (Zohry, 2010) An overwhelming majority of the Egyptians follow Islam as their religion, while Christianity is the second largest faith, followers of which make up about 10% of the total population. Being a religious Arab country, the women were not encouraged to participate in the nation building programs. However, the situation has taken a drastic turn with the passage of time, and women are working in various professions against different positions. Women are now working in forces, including military and air force, and police services, along with rendering their valuable services in the popular fields i.e. teaching, medicine, nursing, marketing, management, administration, social welfare and politics. There was a time when the conservative Muslims and Christians did not like women’s participation in male dominated careers. Somehow, the technological revolution and advent of multinational companies in Egypt paved the way towards women’s dynamic role in different areas of interests. The feminist movements and human rights activists also added their share in ensuring respectable and equal status of women in socioeconomic, cultural and political avenues at large. References Platan, Peter & Teal, Jason (2001) Comparative Geopolitics – A Geopolitical Analysis of Egypt Retrieved from http://www.peterplatan.com/other/files/egypt.pdf Zohry, Ayman. (2010) Impact of the Economic Crisis on Egyptian Migration and Egyptians Abroad Retrieved from http://www.migration4development.org/content/impact-economic-crisis-egyptian-migration-and-egyptians-abroad Zohry, Ayman. (2009) The Development Impact of Internal Migration: Findings from Egypt Egyptian Society for Migration Studies Marrakesh, Morocco 27 Sep. - 2 Oct. 2009 Kuwait News Agency (2007) Egypt urges for steps to control illegal immigration Retrieved from http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?Language=en&id=1847023 Migration in Egypt/ the Middle East Retrieved from http://www.migrationdrc.org/research/regions/egypt_themiddleeast.html Read More