Migration in Morocco: History, Current Trends and Future ... - MGSoG

6. Migration and Development
International migration is argued to optimize development if its positive effects
are stimulated while the negatives are mitigated. There are several channels through
which international migration influences development. In this paper the focus will be
placed on return migration, remittances, and migration of the highly skilled as the main
channels. It is important to focus on these channels because the Moroccan government
has seen these channels as an instrument for development from the early stages of
migration.
When looking at the different channels mentioned, researchers have focused
mainly on their economic impacts. Migration effects go beyond pure financial terms,
however. The social and cultural context is also highly influenced by migration, and the
Moroccan case shows that the link between migration and development encompasses not
only the economic sector but also the social and cultural domains (Khachani, 2009).
6.1 Return & Circular Migration
The issue of return migration to Morocco has initially been driven by two forces.
On the one hand, Morocco has always seen migration as a long-term project that would
eventually benefit the country’s development. From the Moroccan perspective, migrants
are potential contributors to the country’s socioeconomic development (Gubert and
Nordman, 2008). Because of this anticipated role, the Moroccan government took
measures to prevent assimilation in the host countries to attract migrants back to Morocco
in the long term (Sasin, 2008). On the other hand, for Europe, the discussion on return
migration only rose to importance when migrants’ presence became “visible” due to their
relatively important number in the host countries (Khachani, 2006). Given the increased
levels of unemployment in Europe and the public discourse scapegoating migrants,
making the migrants return was seen as a possible solution (Khachani, 2006). In this way
Europe could limit the number of migrants living in its societies and avoid potential
problems related to the social cohesion of a heterogeneous, multicultural society. These
two dynamics enforced by both Morocco and the European host countries has led to the
adaptation of return migration policies.
As already discussed in the section on Moroccan migration history, the labor
migration which started in the early 1960s was followed by migration due to family
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