“Migration Without Myths”: an important and much-needed book that creates space for a fact-based discussion beyond divisions
How Migration Really Works: 22 Things You Need to Know About the Most Divisive Issue in Politics by Hein de Haas
Migration is today one of the most politically contentious issues, so it is hardly surprising that discussions around it increasingly rely on emotions. In such an atmosphere, the book “Migration Without Myths” (original title: How Migration Really Works: 22 Things You Need to Know About the Most Divisive Issue in Politics) by Hein de Haas – one of the world’s leading migration scholars – takes on exceptional importance. It is all the more welcome that it has just been published in Polish by GlowBook.
While reading this book, I kept thinking that its message should be much more widely disseminated in our society. This is because de Haas offers a perspective that is rarely encountered today: instead of deepening divisions, he invites readers to a discussion grounded in data, research, and rigorous analysis. This approach not only puts facts in order but also helps explain where the most commonly repeated narratives come from – both the alarmist ones and the overly optimistic ones. The former reproduce stereotypes and information of dubious credibility, while the latter tend to moralize and downplay the challenges that accompany migration. De Haas’ latest book, by contrast, is nuanced, thorough, and empathetic at the same time. It goes beyond these entrenched frames of debate and attempts to set a new direction. Given how strongly politicized the issue is, this is no easy task – yet the author largely succeeds.
The author consistently shows that migration is neither a problem to be solved nor a solution to other problems. Nor is it solely a threat, a challenge, or, conversely, an opportunity, a benefit, or a source of enrichment. It is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that is permanently embedded in the functioning of contemporary societies. This perspective makes it possible to move away from pervasive simplifications and gain a better understanding of what migration actually is.
The book is divided into 22 chapters, each addressing a different myth. One of the most important for Polish readers is the claim that “we do not need migrant workers.” The author argues that in fact our societies “have created a structural demand for migrant labor that will not disappear as long as economies continue to grow,” and he wryly concludes that “the most effective way to reduce migration would be to wreck the economy.” This is worth remembering in a country that enjoys impressive economic success, harbors ambitions for further development, and at the same time has political forces claiming that Poland could do without migrants.
From our perspective, another interesting myth concerns the supposedly tougher immigration policies of conservatives. Readers may still recall the discrepancy between the anti-immigration rhetoric of the United Right government and its fairly liberal approach in practice. On the liberal side, meanwhile, there exists a myth according to which immigration brings only benefits to receiving countries, and everyone gains it. The author also dismantles this belief, pointing out that although immigration generally brings economic benefits, the gains primarily accrue to the wealthiest, while those who bear the costs of the associated social and cultural changes are usually among the lowest earners.
When reviewing a book, of course, its limitations should also be acknowledged. The structure, based on debunking successive myths, forces the author into certain simplifications and categorical judgments. This is particularly evident in the chapter devoted to immigrant integration. Integration processes are presented in a way that may suggest that most difficulties will resolve themselves “naturally” in the long run, and that active state integration policy plays only a marginal role. While the diagnosis of the phenomenon itself seems convincing, the conclusions drawn from it are sometimes problematic. They lack a politically grounded perspective that takes into account the short-term costs, tensions, and risks associated with passivity or excessive optimism – from the standpoint of both host societies and migrants themselves. At the same time, it is worth appreciating that the book clearly highlights the importance of other public policies – such as housing, employment, and on citizenship – which too often remain in the background of debates about integration.
Despite these reservations, “Migration Without Myths” is undoubtedly a valuable book. For Polish readers it may prove particularly useful, especially in the context of declarations by politicians (both from the previous and the current governing parties) that “we will not repeat the mistakes of Western countries” when it comes to immigration. Thanks to this book, we can better understand what those mistakes actually were and how different this reality is from the common perceptions and narratives present in public debate. And once that understanding has been achieved, one may bitterly conclude that we are well on our way to repeating many of those mistakes.
For this reason alone, I think that “Migration Without Myths” is an important and much-needed book that offers a broad perspective and creates space for a fact-based discussion beyond divisions – for anyone who is not afraid to confront their own beliefs with the findings of rigorous research.
Oskar Chmiel
Senior Social Sciences Researcher at CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research
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