unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc cover image

unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

520. Debunking The Biggest Migration Myths with Hein de Haas

Mar 24, 2025
Hein de Haas, a sociology professor at the University of Amsterdam and author of "How Migration Really Works," dives deep into the realities of migration. He debunks myths, revealing that global migration levels are stable despite political uproar. The conversation explores how migration drives development and the economic impact of migrants. Hein clarifies the differences between human trafficking and smuggling and argues that political solutions often prioritize showmanship over addressing complex challenges in migration policies.
59:03

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Migration has consistently been a stable aspect of human history, yet contemporary political narratives often exaggerate it as a recent crisis.
  • The majority of migration occurs internally within countries for economic reasons, challenging the perception that international migration dominates discussions.

Deep dives

Migration as a Historical Constant

Migration has been a fundamental aspect of human existence throughout history, with patterns observable from ancient hunter-gatherers to modern times. The awareness that migration is not a new phenomenon is often lost in contemporary discussions, which frequently portray it as an alarming increase rather than a continuation of established trends. Historical perspectives reveal that the percentage of migrants within populations, such as in the U.S. and Europe, has remained relatively stable despite political narratives suggesting otherwise. Recognizing that humans have always traversed borders helps contextualize current migration debates and challenges the perception of migration as a recent crisis.

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