Skilled Migration and Modern Colonialism Debate

Migration from countries whose resources and manpower were exploited during the colonial period to developed countries is gaining a new dimension today with the transfer of qualified human resources. Immigrants who set out for better education, work and living conditions are faced with feelings such as belonging, longing and conscience, as well as economic opportunities, on this journey.

Common heroes in different stories of the contemporary world

After the end of colonialism, migration from former colonies to developed countries continues, especially with educated and qualified people seeking better life, education, freedom and career opportunities. The common points of this migration are discussed through the lives of four people with different stories from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Colombia and Syria.

While immigrants become part of the qualified workforce needed in the countries they visit over time, their dreams of returning to their countries often do not come true. This situation brings up the discussion of "modern colonialism", as countries whose natural resources were exploited in the past are losing their trained manpower today.

Bringing the other to civilization without bringing civilization to the other

While in the past colonial powers exploited their resources with the claim of bringing their own civilizations to other societies, today this relationship continues to change and qualified human resources are directed to developed countries.

The migration of educated and talented people from developing countries to developed countries for better life and career opportunities is considered as the transfer of the human resources of these countries to the central countries. This situation brings up the discussion of "neo-colonialism", which operates through economic, cultural and political effects rather than military occupation.

If you are useful you are valuable, if you are not you are a burden.

Developed countries prioritize the professional groups and qualified people they need in their immigration policies and highlight criteria such as education, talent and score in immigrant selection.

While this system offers more opportunities to qualified people such as doctors, engineers and teachers, it causes refugees to face much more difficult conditions. Thus, it is argued that immigrants are valued as long as they are "useful" and this turns into a new form of colonialism.

Immigrants carry a burden of longing, regret and conscience in their luggage

When immigrants leave their countries for better life and career opportunities, they are torn between longing for the families, lands and cultures they left behind and adapting to their new lives.

Particularly among qualified immigrants, the feeling of guilt of offering their knowledge and skills to the development of other countries instead of serving their own country comes to the fore. On the other hand, sending the earned income to families and the country is seen as a positive aspect of migration.