HL only: Globalization increases migration by connecting labour markets, transport systems, communication networks and families across states. Borders do not simply stop these movements; they selectively enable, restrict and categorize them.
This issue belongs to the HL extension topic area of borders and connects directly to interdependence, sovereignty and power. Globalization reduces the practical cost of moving: migrants can learn about jobs online, travel more easily and maintain transnational family networks. Employers and states may also encourage migration when workers are needed.
Borders remain politically important because states decide who may enter, work, claim asylum or become a citizen. This demonstrates sovereignty, while unequal access to passports and visas reveals power: a tourist, skilled worker and asylum seeker may encounter the same territorial border very differently.
| Globalizing process | Effect of borders | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| Regional integration | Borders become more open for selected groups | European Union free movement allows citizens of member states to live and work across much of the bloc. The United Kingdom ended this freedom of movement after Brexit on 31 December 2020. |
| Conflict and displacement | Borders determine access to protection | After Russia's 2022 invasion, the European Union activated its Temporary Protection Directive, giving millions of displaced Ukrainians residence and employment rights. |
| Global labour markets | States admit workers but may limit permanent membership | Qatar relied heavily on migrant labour for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while citizenship remained highly restricted. |
A liberal perspective helps explain how institutions and economic interdependence facilitate mobility. A realist perspective emphasizes states protecting territory and controlling admission. These are analytical tools rather than prescribed theories, and neither alone explains why borders are open to some migrants but closed to others.
Exam technique: In a Paper 3 HL response, avoid the misconception that globalization makes borders irrelevant. Build a clear argument that globalization expands cross-border flows while states transform borders into selective legal and political filters, then support it with dated cases and connect at least two HL topic areas where required.