Démographie: Analyse et synthèse. Volume IV, Les déterminants de la migration by GraziellaCaselli; Jacques Vallin; Guillaume WunschReview by: Gian Carlo BlangiardoEuropean Journal of Population / Revue Européenne de Démographie, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Jun.,2006), pp. 205-206Published by: SpringerStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20164335 .

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European Journal of Population (2006) 22:205-206

DOI 10.1007/s 10680-005-0692-1

Book Review

Graziella Caselli, Jacques Vallin and Guillaume Wunsch (eds.), D?mographie:

analyse et synth?se. Volume IV, Les d?terminants de la migration, Paris:

Institut national d'?tudes d?mographiques, 2003, vi + 225 pp.

It is well known that the choice, or sometimes the necessity, to migrate

depends on a set of factors, either individual or collective, which interact and

modify in time and space. On the one hand, the economic explanations of

migration intertwine political, social and environmental arguments, and even

cultural and psychological aspects. On the other hand, however, it is

undoubtedly true that no theory or interpretative model can leave aside an

accurate analysis of the framework characterising the origin as well as the

destination society of migration flows.

The complexity of the analysis of migration determinants has oftentimes

induced various scholars to focus on data collection - which by the way is not

always a simple task -

and on the description of dynamics. The originality of

this contribution, which represents the fourth volume of a collection dedicated

to tools for the analysis of demographic dynamics and of the phenomena that

induce them, lies in the fact that it is purposely focused on the theme of spatial mobility, in its diverse expressions. This perspective is not taken just to tell the

tales, but rather in order to interpret -

given the experience gained over almost

two centuries of observation and debate on migrations -

the causes which the

behaviours that determined them are based on.

The first part of the volume is dedicated to international migrations and

developed into two chapters. Chapter one takes the reader through a review

of international mobility in the XlXth and XXth century, with specific ref erence to the most developed countries, and to an interpretation of the flows

in the historical framework that generated them. The review goes from the

socio-economic transformations that witnessed (and in part produced) the

process known as (first) demographic transition, to the warlike and politics issues which exerted important effects also on mobility. Particular attention is

devoted to the history of migrations in the second half of the XXth century (especially after the 1970s), when the phenomenon displays a massive

transformation with the development of the process of globalisation that

increases the volume of the flows and modifies their social and demographic

composition.

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206 BOOK REVIEW

The second chapter of the first part develops a multidisciplinary analysis of the main theories of international migrations, reviewing their major

advantages and drawbacks. After an explanation of migratory phenomena

through the economic and the sociologie approach, the scheme of "transition

to mobility" is recalled. Political factors are also examined, and finally a

"systemic" approach is taken in order to provide an interpretation of

migratory dynamics which accounts for the interactions between the origins and destinations of the flows.

The second part of the volume -

aimed at underlining the main factors

leading to migration - is divided into four chapters. The first one tackles the

traditional theme of flows induced by the economic imbalance between

population and resources, whereas the second deepens the explanation of

spatial mobility determining - not always only for economic reasons -

the

moving from the rural areas to urban agglomerates. This view is taken with

respect to the dynamics and the problems of the developed countries as well

as to the impressing developments (present and future) in the so-called

"developing countries".

The third chapter is dedicated to an inspection of the causes and experi ences that gave rise to domestic and international mobility phenomena,

generated by socio-political conditions. The themes of refugees and asylum

seeking are analysed and put in relation to the conditions that determine

them as well as to the outcome in terms of asylum availability or not in the

countries that they are directed to.

The fourth and final chapter points out the noticeable importance of the

socio-demographic characteristics of migrants in the definition of their

mobility projects, alongside the study of the context within which the choice of migration is made.

The third part of the volume aims at providing some final remarks about

two particular types of mobility flows: the commuting flows and the back

migrations. For the latter -

which can be regarded either as a failure in the

migratory project or as a completion of its success - some interesting hints

are offered for the analysis and appreciation of the data sources. Conversely, as for the commuting flows, an interpretative model is defined which is

capable of connecting fundamental factors such as time and space (in terms

of distance between origins and destinations of flows) to economic aspects, environmental conditions and to life choices of the individuals affected.

Gian Carlo Blangiardo

Facolta di scienze statistiche

Universit? degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca

Italy

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