Socioeconomic benefits of migration: African migrants in Australia and media representation

Abstract

Immigration policies in Australia since 9/11 have engendered an insider-outsider status for African migrants in the country. While such situation may not be deliberately intended, media representations of African migrants seem to give a contrary view. This research argues that such alienation caused mainly by negative media and political stereotyping, lead to what can be termed an in-group of disenfranchised African migrants in search of cultural identity. The research also argues that despite such xenophobic reactions and representations of Africans, research (Mares, 2005) shows that migrants make significant contribution in the nation’s economic survival. Using the US foreign policy as case in point, Nye (2004, 2008) in soft power hard power critiques the drawbacks in confrontational politics. He used the backlash to US forceful foreign policy to demonstrate the downside to hard power in international relations. His argument is that even though force may be necessary at some stage, the neglect of more constructive outcome borne out of proper understanding and negotiations (soft power) runs the risk of jeopardising a nation’s international standing and in turn affect its productive capacity. This research extends this position by arguing that the hard line immigration policy of the Howard government especially on African migrants, coupled with negative media coverage of African issues, create an alienated or what Woodford et al. (2001) called an out-group mentality among Africans in Australia. Such policy disregarded the socioeconomic contributions of African communities in the development of multicultural Australia. The research therefore seeks a more inclusive policy framework (soft policy) which engenders participatory public sphere in which African migrants can feel a sense of belonging and be able to make tangible contributions as equal partners in the development of the country.