The post-World War II period has been called the age of migration, since an unprecedented number of people worldwide have been on the move. This reference surveys migration and immigration past and present in 14 representative countries. Historical, social, political, and economic consequences of migration are considered. Students and researchers will find the synthesis indispensable and the format ideal for comparisons.

The collective analysis of the contributors, who hail from a range of disciplines, ultimately defies the simple characterization of migration as a choice of people seeking better income opportunities. The authors are sensitive to the ways that race, class, and gender dynamics influence the composition of migratory flows, the reasons why people migrate, and the outcomes of population movements. Each chapter explicates the human cost of migration, giving readers a better understanding of social issues underlying migration at the beginning of the 21st century.