An Anthology of Migration and Social Transformation

The contributions of this book examine contemporary dynamics of migration and mobility in the context of the general societal transformations that have taken place in Europe over the past few decades. The book will help readers to better understand the manifold ways in which migration trends in the region are linked to changing political-economic constellations, orders of power and inequality, and political discourses. It begins with an introduction to a number of theoretical approaches that address the nexus between migration and general societal shifts, including processes of supranationalisation, EU enlargement, postsocialist transformations and rescaling. It then provides a comprehensive overview of the political regulation of migration through border control and immigration policies. The contributions that follow detail the dynamic changes of individual migration patterns and their implications for the agency of mobile individuals. The final part challenges thereader to consider how policies and practices of migration are linked to symbolic struggles over belonging and rights, describing a wide range of expressions of such conflicts, from cosmopolitanism to racism and xenophobia. 

“This collection provides an impressive and insightful account that cuts across the societal, regional and international levels to show how migration both shapes and is shaped by key social transformations in Europe.”

Andrew Geddes-Department of Politics, University of Sheffield

“This is a much needed handbook that ties the booming research on migration in Europe to wider issues of societal transformation. It is a truly needed contribution to our effort of disentangling complex phenomena such as European integration, globalisation, migration and mobility.”

Anna Triandafyllidou-Robert Schuman Chair, European University Institute, Florence