International Migration

'An excellent book - cogent, well-argued and comprehensive. Right on target for a world that is not fully reconciled to the logic of globalization..' - Nigel Harris, Professor Emeritus, University College London; author of The New Untouchables: Immigration and the New World Worker

'The free international movement of people is widely regarded as undesirable, or impossible, or both. In this courageous book, Jonathon Moses presents a sustained argument for free international immigration. He surveys the history and morality of immigration, as well analyses of its political and economic impacts. He finds no compelling reasons for immigration restrictions, and addresses virtually every possible objection to his argument. The political realism of Moses' radical proposals may be questioned, but his logic and evidence are impeccable. Intellectual opponents of free international migration have their work cut out for them.' - Jeffry Frieden, Professor of Government, Harvard University

'This book speaks with clarity and moral force on an aspect of globalization about which relatively little has been written. The author weaves together political, economic and moral arguments to make a persuasive case for his vision of a world without borders. It is a refreshingly provocative counter-point to the view that all we need in the name of globalization is freer trade and mobility of capital, but not the mobility of labour.' - Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Currently, Professor of Political Economy, University of Pavia, Italy

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

A timely argument...
...a good argument..
...but a difficult argument


2. Two Paradoxes of Globalization

Economic inequalities
Political inequalities
Growing demand for migration


3. Some Historical Perspective

Migration in the Long Arc of History
The Mercantilist Period
The Liberal Period
The New Liberal Period
Conclusion


4. The Moral Argument

Mobility as a universal right
The instrumentalist argument
Conclusion


5. A Political Argument

The problem with closed borders
The case of apartheid
The market-based approach
The political benefits of free migration


6. An Economic Argument

Host country benefits
Sending country benefits
International benefits
Conclusion


7. Who Opposes Free Migration?

Public opinion
The undying state
Diffuse and particular interests


8. Questioning Conventional Wisdom

The great flood of immigrants
Brain drain
Migration's effect on culture
The challenge of political realism
Security concerns


9. Conclusion and Policy Responses

Policy responses
Broadening the debate

Notes

List of Figures
2.1 Map of Income
2.2 Map of Freedom
7.1 Public opinion about levels of immigration
7.2 Immigrant influence
8.1 Sharing customs and tradition

List of Tables
2.1. Less Developed Countries

Suggested Reading
Index

About the Author:

Professor Jonathon W. Moses has been at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) since 1993.