A series of recent events, including the continued war on terrorism, have focused world attention on issues related to migration, integration and multiculturalism. They have demonstrated that while domestic factors play a crucial role in the formulation and implementation of national policies, international developments have a significant impact on the ways nation-states develop their responses to migration and on the integration of migrant populations. Given these events, and the realization that our global society is increasingly interconnected, it is crucial to further develop a substantial body of social science research that goes beyond “methodological nationalism”, not only to broaden the analytical perspectives of social science research but also to contribute to international policy responses to migration and cultural diversity based on human rights.
It is in this context that the new thematic issue of UNESCO’s International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS), released in December 2004, takes up the debate on contemporary challenges in managing migration and integration. Previous issues (Vol. 5, No 1 & 2) have highlighted the differences in patterns of cultural diversity in industrialized and post-colonial countries. The current articles highlight problems and policies concerning the entry and settlement of migrants and their descendants both in the Asia Pacific region and in Europe. The cases are brought together to broaden the perspective of social science migration research.
