The International Politics of Forced Migration

At the beginning of the new millennium, migration has become highly politicized and is now a pivotal issue in both national and international politics. Although the political potency of fears of immigration is nothing new, it seems that population movements are taking on increased significance in the context of current global social transformations. Stephen Castles focuses mainly on issues of forced migration, and asks the question: is there a ‘global migration crisis’? He concludes that the so-called migration crisis arises because of the vast imbalances between North and South with regard to economic conditions, social well-being and human rights.