A level-readyAll subjects · Geography · WGE01 Global Challenges
Managing migration: Australia, Germany and refugees
Edexcel IAL Geography · WGE01 Global Challenges
Managing migration in a globalised world is increasingly difficult, leading to contrasting policies, and migration from conflict zones (refugees, asylum seekers and people trafficking) is a major challenge for destination countries.
Contrasting policies: Australia and Germany
- Australia: Operation Sovereign Borders, a military-led border security operation, began on 18 September 2013. By June 2016, 28 boats carrying 734 people had been turned back. Asylum seekers arriving by boat were sent for offshore processing on Nauru and Manus Island (Papua New Guinea); in April 2016 PNG's Supreme Court found detention on Manus unconstitutional. Australia also resettles refugees through its Humanitarian Program: an extra 12,000 places for people from Syria and Iraq were announced in September 2015, and the intake was set at 13,750 for 2016 to 2017 rising to 18,750 for 2018 to 2019 (Parliament of Australia Library, 2017).
- Germany: in 2015 Germany accepted very large numbers of asylum seekers. About 965,000 people had been registered as asylum seekers by the end of November 2015, and 425,035 formal applications had been filed; Syrians made 136,273 applications in January to November 2015, against 39,332 in 2014 (bpb, December 2015).
Conflict migration
UNHCR (June 2025): 122.1 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of April 2025. At the end of 2024 there were 42.7 million refugees and 73.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs). The largest displacement situations were Sudan (14.3 million), Syria (13.5 million), Afghanistan (10.3 million) and Ukraine (8.8 million). 67% of refugees stay in neighbouring countries and low- and middle-income countries host 73% of the world's refugees.
People trafficking exploits migrants through forced labour and sexual exploitation; smugglers charge for dangerous journeys.
Why migration is hard to manage
- Globalisation brings more flows and more routes, and borders are long and porous.
- Labour shortages mean economies need migrants even when public opinion is hostile.
- International law requires asylum claims to be heard.
- Sudden refugee flows from conflict need housing, health care, education and integration at short notice.
- Policies in one country divert flows to others.
The June 2025 examiners warned against answers that treat all migration as illegal migration.
Worked example
Compare Australia's and Germany's approaches to asylum seekers in 2013 to 2016.
- Australia used deterrence: boat turnbacks and offshore processing, while still resettling chosen refugees.
- Germany registered very large numbers of asylum seekers in 2015, especially Syrians.
- So Australia controlled arrivals strictly while Germany accepted large-scale arrivals.
Answer: Australia: deterrence and selection; Germany: large-scale reception in 2015.
Check yourself
- Syrians made 39,332 asylum applications in Germany in 2014 and 136,273 in January to November 2015. By what factor did they increase? Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
Show answer
3.46. 136,273 / 39,332 = 3.46.
- Australia's humanitarian intake was set at 13,750 for 2016 to 2017 and 18,750 for 2018 to 2019. Calculate the percentage increase to 1 decimal place.
Show answer
36.4 %. 5,000 / 13,750 x 100 = 36.4%.
- 28 boats carrying 734 people were turned back by June 2016. What was the mean number of people per boat, to 1 decimal place?
Show answer
26.2. 734 / 28 = 26.2.
- An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who
- has been forced from home but remains within their own country
- has crossed a border to seek asylum
- moves abroad for a job
- has been resettled in Australia
Show answer
has been forced from home but remains within their own country. IDPs have not crossed an international border.
- According to UNHCR, what share of refugees stay in neighbouring countries?
- 10%
- 25%
- 67%
- 95%
Show answer
67%. Most refugees stay close to home, often in poorer countries.
- Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders is best described as
- a military-led operation to stop asylum boats, including turnbacks and offshore processing
- a points-based visa for skilled workers
- free movement within a trade bloc
- a programme to send remittances
Show answer
a military-led operation to stop asylum boats, including turnbacks and offshore processing. It began on 18 September 2013.
- Explain one reason why international migration is difficult to manage.
Show answer
Borders are long and hard to police, so irregular migrants and smugglers can cross; this creates a challenge because governments cannot control numbers or plan services.. Give a reason and the challenge it creates.
Sources
- Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level in Geography specification (Issue 3, September 2025)
- Parliament of Australia Library research paper: Developments in Australian refugee law and policy, 2013 to 2016 (18 September 2017)
- Bundeszentrale fur politische Bildung: Fluchtmigration nach Deutschland und Europa (15 December 2015)
- UNHCR Global Trends 2024 press release (12 June 2025)
- Pearson principal examiner report, WGE01 Global Challenges, June 2025
- Pearson WGE01 mark scheme, June 2025 (copy hosted by Physics and Maths Tutor)
Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.