Intervening Obstacles

Definition

Intervening obstacles are barriers that hinder or prevent migration from one place to another, affecting the decision-making process for potential migrants. These obstacles can be physical, such as mountains or rivers, or social and political, like laws and regulations that restrict movement. Understanding intervening obstacles is crucial when analyzing how push and pull factors influence migration patterns.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intervening obstacles can significantly impact the routes taken by migrants, often forcing them to alter their intended paths or delay their journeys.
2. These obstacles may include geographical features like oceans and deserts, which can make travel difficult or impossible without adequate resources.
3. Social and political factors can also act as intervening obstacles; for example, immigration laws can prevent migrants from reaching their desired destinations.
4. Economic barriers, such as the costs associated with travel and resettlement, can also serve as intervening obstacles, particularly for those with limited financial resources.
5. Understanding intervening obstacles helps in assessing why certain migration flows are more prominent than others and how they change over time.

Review Questions

• How do intervening obstacles affect the decision-making process of potential migrants?
  • Intervening obstacles play a crucial role in the decision-making process of potential migrants by presenting barriers that may alter their intended migration routes. For instance, a migrant may intend to move from one country to another but encounter physical barriers like mountains or rivers that complicate travel. Similarly, legal restrictions such as visa requirements can deter individuals from pursuing their migration goals. By understanding these challenges, we can better appreciate the complexities involved in migration beyond just push and pull factors.
• Analyze how intervening obstacles can influence migration patterns in relation to push and pull factors.
  • Intervening obstacles can significantly shape migration patterns by either reinforcing or diminishing the effects of push and pull factors. For example, if a country has a strong pull factor such as job opportunities but also imposes strict immigration controls, potential migrants may choose alternative destinations with fewer obstacles despite stronger push factors at home. This interplay highlights that even when push factors are compelling, the presence of significant intervening obstacles can redirect migration flows toward locations with more accessible pathways.
• Evaluate the role of intervening obstacles in shaping global migration trends over time.
  • The role of intervening obstacles in shaping global migration trends is multifaceted and has evolved over time due to changes in political climates, economic conditions, and advancements in transportation technology. For instance, historical barriers like vast oceans were once formidable challenges that limited migration from one continent to another. However, improvements in air travel have reduced these physical obstacles significantly. Conversely, modern-day political restrictions and economic inequalities continue to create new intervening obstacles that shape where and how people migrate today. Evaluating these trends shows us how interconnected global dynamics influence human movement across borders.

Related terms

Push Factors:

Conditions that drive individuals to leave their current location, such as economic hardship, conflict, or environmental disasters.

Pull Factors:

Attractive conditions or opportunities in a destination that draw individuals to migrate there, such as job availability, better living standards, or political stability.

Migration Stream: The flow of migrants from one location to another, often influenced by both push and pull factors as well as intervening obstacles.