Urban ecology and the effects of migration in Marsa

Abstract

The topic of migration has always generated opposing views. Discussions on online social networks are characterised by hatred, xenophobic and labelling observations while others promote cultural diversity and integration. In the last ten years, Malta had to deal with the influx of several migrants. This is possibly the result of a considerable amount of people living in African countries experiencing uncertainty, high crime, poverty and unemployment rates and who are seeking a better future (LeMay, 2007). Studies have shown that migration is partly responsible for poverty and other economic and social deficiencies, although this hypothesis has not always been confirmed (Tienda & Liang, 1994). Several countries are re-assessing their social and economic policies to combat economic pressure, crime and other problems which are possibly being exacerbated by such a phenomenon (Parsons & Smeeding, 2006).