Migration: the Thermometer of History

Why Is Migration Called a Thermometer of History?

Father Alfredo J. Gonçalves argues that migration is not a random or marginal phenomenon — it is a precise indicator of the forces shaping our era. When migratory movements grow intense, diversified and complex, they signal that something — or someone — has accelerated the pace of events on a global scale.

What Role Does Economic Globalisation Play?

According to the analysis, globalised economic policy rests on certain tectonic plates: commitments that are more or less rock-solid, whether explicit or implicit. These structural foundations shift slowly, but when they move, millions of people move with them — crossing borders in search of safety, work and dignity.

Who Are the Real Protagonists of History?

The central thesis is powerful: migrants are not footnotes in history books — they are its authors. Their feet literally march history forward. Every journey made under pressure, every border crossed at great personal cost, reshapes societies, economies and cultures on both sides of the frontier.

Why Does This Matter for Brazil?

Brazil sits at the crossroads of major migratory flows in South America. Venezuelans, Haitians, Bolivians and many other nationalities have chosen Brazilian cities as destinations or transit points. Understanding migration as a structural, historically rooted process — rather than a crisis to be managed — changes how communities, policymakers and ordinary citizens respond to newcomers.

What Can We Learn From This Perspective?

Viewing migration through a historical and humanising lens invites empathy and informed action. It challenges narratives that reduce migrants to statistics or security threats, and instead highlights their agency, resilience and contribution to the societies that receive them.