Migration: The Present State, Problems and Perspectives of Research Paradigms

• Main Author: Silva Mežnarić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies 2003-12-01
• Series: Migracijske i Etniĉke Teme
• Subjects: migration; research; paradigms; prediction; validity; models
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/11897

Two prevailing paradigms in contemporary international migration research – migration as unpredictable explosion and migration as mainly predictable long cycles movement – are put into question. Both paradigms are not valid in explaining latest development in international migration field. They are too robust for reality which is satiated with novel developments in the field of volume, directions, labour markets and structure of migration flows, both voluntary and involuntary. Individual independent migrant as decision maker is coming to the fore. Therefore the reassessment of theoretical and conceptual apparatus of migration is imminent. As to the methods, mathematically supported sociological models of contemporary migration could be needed. On the basis of “new intuition”, the principles of simplicity, parsimony, and universality could lead to a theoretical innovation.