Skip to main content

Immigration in the Global Context

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health

Introduction

Studies of human DNA indicate that migration has been a part of human existence for at least 100,000 years, when it is estimated that the first migrations of humans from Africa to Asia occurred (Stanyon et al., 2009). Migration has been part of the human story from the days of strictly hunting and gathering-based societies to the establishment of prolific urban areas that accommodate millions of human beings in small concentrated areas. Most human migration is in search of better opportunities reflecting the desire for an improved quality of life. In some cases, migration is the only means of survival, and yet in others, migration is forced, either by violence, political unrest, or natural disaster.

Some of the most significant historical movements of people include over 1.2 million Spaniards, Portuguese, and British subjects migrating to the Americas beginning in the 1490s, closely followed by up to 12 million African migrants forced to move as slaves across the Atlantic...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,100.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arcand, J-L., Luckanachai, N., & Rieger, M. (2010). Making migration a development factor: the case of North and West Africa. Programme for the Study of Global Migration, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Geneva: International Labour Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Organization for Migration. (2008). World migration report 2008. Managing labor mobility in the evolving global economy. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://www.iadb.org/intal/intalcdi/PE/2008/02382a04.pdf

  • International Organization for Migration. (2010). World migration report 2010. The future of migration: Building capacities for change. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/free/WMR_2010_ENGLISH.pdf

  • Martin, S. (2001). Global migration trends and asylum. Washington, D.C.: Institute for the Study of International Migration. Georgetown University. Retrieved August 16, 2010, from http://www.jha.ac/articles/u041.htm

  • Martin, S. (2003). Women and migration. United Nations, Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW). Consultative meeting on “Migration and mobility and how this movement affects women,” Malmo. Retrieved August 16, 2010, from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/meetings/consult/CM-Dec03-WP1.pdf

  • Stanyon, R., Sazzini, M., & Luiselli, D. (2009). Timing the first human migration into Eastern Asia. Journal of Biology, 8(2), 18. doi:10.1186/jbi01115. Retrieved February 1, 2011, from http://jbiol.com/content/8/2/18

  • United Nations. (2010). Health workers, international migration and development. Population Facts, March 2010 (No. 2010/2/E). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/popfacts/popfacts_2010-2.pdf

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2009). Human development report 2009. Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf

  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2011). WHO global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel (DRAFT). Retrieved March 21, 2011, from http://www.who.int/hrh/migration/draft_guidelines.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this entry

Cite this entry

Rausa, B., Lloyd, L.S. (2012). Immigration in the Global Context. In: Loue, S., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5655-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-5659-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics