The cultural contradictions of migrations in globalized society

Abstract

Concepts such as «culture», «migrations», and «globalization» are closely interrelated due to their deep contradictory nature; however, in this work we will use «culture» as an element of cohesion and as an important key in the analysis and interpretation of migratory phenomena. Among the multiple contradictions of these phenomena in the context of a global society, we will point out specially four that we consider as central: globalization/localization, individuals/community, identity/difference, and space/time. As it will be seen throughout this work, the former contradictions engender different kinds of dilemmas that reveal the limits as well as the real possibilities for a solution of migration problems. Moreover, it will also be argued that although space is a crucial factor, it is necessary to incorporate the temporal dimension as a key element to understand and articulate policies targeted towards migratory phenomena, since we face a «flow society» in which time prevails over space. That is why we should think of pure change in order to face the fact that change, not stability and order, dominates social and cultural dynamics, and, therefore, migrations.