A critical investigation of the impact of internal family migration on the city of Benghazi in Libya Saad, M. Submitted version deposited in CURVE January 2014 Original citation: Saad, M. (2011). A critical investigation of the impact of internal family migration on the city of Benghazi in Libya. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University. Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. CURVE is the Institutional Repository for Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open A CRITICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF INTERNAL FAMILY MIGRATION ON THE CITY OF BENGHAZI, IN LIBYA BY: MUSSA RAGAB SAAD Department of Geography, Environment & Disaster Management, Faculty of Business, Environment and Society, Coventry University, Coventry, UK 2010 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the University's Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Abstract The Impact of Internal Family Migration on the City of Benghazi, in Libya During the last fifty years the city of Benghazi in Libya has attracted huge streams of migrants from villages and small towns. This is due to the pull factors of jobs and social services in the city and to the push factors associated with the neglect of villages and small towns. This resulted in the city quickly increasing in size, leading to rapid population growth, culminating in many economic, social and demographic problems. However, little is known about Libyan migration especially in relation to the challenges posed by internal migration. Therefore, there is a need to examine the phenomena of internal migration and its effect on Benghazi, in order to provide planners and policy makers with up-to-date and relevant information to help them make appropriate decisions. The key aim of this study was to determine and critically evaluate the impact of internal migration on Benghazi using an interpretive approach. This was achieved by combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The empirical core of this thesis is based on field work data, including questionnaire interviews with 150 heads of household who had migrated to Benghazi; supplemented by 10 in-depth narrative studies with selected families; and semi structured interviews with key informants (policy makers) to investigate Government policy and the economic, social and demographic impact of internal migration on the city of Benghazi. The starting point of the theoretical basis of this study is based on theories developed by Ravenstein, Lee and Sjaastad. The research shows that there has been a high rate of migration flow to Benghazi over the last fifty years, and that the economic elements (job opportunities, higher incomes and more regular work) are the most important motives for migrating, in addition to social factors namely attending education and having access to health services. The research found that migration to Benghazi involved a bulk exodus of i the whole family unit to take advantage of a better lifestyle in Benghazi. The thesis further reveals that these family streams of migrants have affected the social, economic and demographic situation of Benghazi. Despite the Libyan Government seeking to reduce streams of internal migrants, some of these policies have worked, others have not. There is thus difference between what was planned and what has actually been achieved on the ground, demonstrating the need for research such as this. Key words: internal family migration, impact, Benghazi and government policy. ii Dedication To my beloved late Mother (stepmother) and Brother, to their purified spirit I dedicate this simple work. iii Acknowledgment I would like to express a special thanks to my Director of Studies Professor Hazel Barrett. I am indebted to her for her guidance and high quality supervision, without which this thesis could not have been completed. Also I am indebted to my second and third supervisors Dr. Angela Browne and Dr. Rachel Granger for their valuable comments and their constructive criticism. I should also like to thank the inhabitants of Benghazi, for their warm welcome and hospitality, and for their willingness to provide the useful data which was required by the researcher. I am very grateful to key informants (policy makers) in Benghazi, including Heads of the General Popular Committees for Health, Education, Housing, Agriculture, Electricity, Water and Gas, Transportation and Manpower for their useful data, recommendations and great help. My thanks also should go to people in the University of Omar Al Mukhtar for letting me use their resources and facilities, throughout my field study in Libya. Thanks are due to my team of assistants Dr Mohammed Marsal, Salah Abdaldaim and Mohamed Anwaiji for their significant help and valuable assistance during the period of field work. I must also record a particular debt of gratitude to friends in the UK: Ibrahim Eshkab, John Webb and Frank Warwick for their assistance, encouragement and support. Above all, however, I would like to express my gratitude to Omar Al Mukhtar University and the Libyan Ministry of Higher Education who gave me a full scholarship without which this thesis would not have been possible. Thank you. Thank you to everyone. iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT...............................................................................................I DEDICATION..........................................................................................III ACKNOWLEDGMENT............................................................................IV TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................V LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................XIII LIST OF FIGURES...............................................................................XVI ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................XVII CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE THESIS..............................1 1.1. Introduction........................................................................................2 1.2. Statement of the Problem..................................................................3 1.3. Aim and Objectives of the Study.......................................................4 1.4. Justification for the Study..................................................................4 1.5. The Structure of the Thesis...............................................................5 CHAPTER TWO: INTERNAL MIGRATION: BACKGROUND..................9 2.1. Introduction......................................................................................10 2.2. Migration Overview..........................................................................10 2.3. Definition of Internal Migration.........................................................11 2.3.1. United Nations Definition………………………………………….....12 2.3.2. Libya’s Definition………………………………………………..….....13 2.4. Internal Migration.............................................................................13 2.5. Duration of Internal Migration..........................................................14 2.5. 1. Temporary Movement..............................................................15 2.5. 2. Permanent Movement..............................................................16 2.5.3. Seasonal Movement..................................................................16 2.6. Theories of General Migration.........................................................17 v 2.6.1. Theories of the Causes of Migration.........................................17 2.6.2. Decision-Making Theories.........................................................19 2.6.3. Critique of Lee's Theory of Intervening Opportunities ..............23 2.6.4. Economic Theories....................................................................24 2.7. Spatial Patterns and Types of Internal Migration............................25 2.7.1. Rural - Urban Migration............................................................25 2.7.2. Rural- Rural Migration.............................................................27 2. 7. 3. Urban - Rural Migration...........................................................28 2.7. 4. Urban - Urban Migration...........................................................28 2.8. Reasons (Causes) of Internal Migration..........................................28 2.8.1. Demographic Reasons..............................................................29 2.8.2. Economic Reasons....................................................................30 2.8.3. Social Reasons..........................................................................31 2.8.4. Urbanisation Reasons...............................................................32 2.9. Immigrant’s Characteristics.............................................................33 2.9.1. Demographic Characteristics....................................................33 2.9.2. Social Characteristics................................................................34 2.9.3. Economic Characteristics..........................................................35