Final answer:
International migrants are drawn to large cities seeking economic opportunities, support from larger, diverse communities, and better social services, despite the challenges of high urban unemployment. Cities often have more diverse populations, increasing tolerance and safety for ethnic and religious minorities. This migration is part of a broader rural-to-urban shift driven by a combination of push-pull factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
International migrants tend to settle in large cities primarily due to the myriad of opportunities, economic activity, and the promise of a better life that these urban centers often represent. For example, migrants are drawn to the possibility of finding employment in sectors that might not be present in rural areas. Cities also offer greater chances for social support with the presence of established communities, including ethnic groups and religious minorities that provide a sense of belonging and safety in numbers. This trend seen in migrants seeking jobs and community, added to mitigating factors like escaping rural poverty, unemployment, or discrimination, constitutes a strong rural-to-urban shift.
Many Factors Influence Migration to Cities
- Economic opportunities: Cities are hubs of commerce and industry, thus offering diverse employment opportunities unavailable in rural areas.
- Cultural and community support: Larger cities boast more diverse populations and communities, providing a welcoming environment for people of the same ethnic background or religion.
- Social issues: Urban decay, lack of healthcare, and poor education systems in rural regions can push individuals towards cities, which may offer superior services in these regards.
Additionally, migrants face less discrimination in large cities due to the diversity and varying levels of tolerance or apathy towards people of different cultures.
In Africa, for example, the core urban areas are magnets for individuals from rural peripheral regions in search of employment. Despite often being at a disadvantage due to governmental policies, they migrate to these urban centers as a strategic move.
A historical review shows that issues such as ethnic violence, poverty, and environmental challenges like drought have also been significant factors driving people away from rural areas to cities where they seek better living conditions despite high unemployment.