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The Shortest History of Migration

When, Why and How Humans Move - from the Prehistoric Peopling of the Planet to Today's Refugee...

Ian Goldin

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English
Experiment
11 February 2025
We are a species in motion—from the first steps of Homo sapiens across Africa to America’s “melting pot.” And when we move—in search of better things, or against our will—our beliefs and skills clash and combine, reshaping society time and again.

In this visionary Shortest History of Migration, Ian Goldin uncovers key moments of cultural exchange while carefully examining empire, slavery, and war. Throughout, we meet famous explorers (Zheng He), exiles (Pablo Neruda), and everyday people in extraordinary circumstances: a Jewish man saved by the Kindertransport, a Japanese gardener who blossomed in Mexico City.

Today, freedom of movement is being curtailed, even as climate change and conflict mobilize people everywhere around the world. Goldin reminds us that passports at every border are a modern invention (he traces the “birth of big brother” to World War I), revealing the folly of trying to halt migration—and proposing commonsense policy instead. 

A gripping chronicle of want and wanderlust, this is a moving portrait of humanity—in every sense of the word.

The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.
By:  
Imprint:   Experiment
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 132mm,  Spine: 23mm
Weight:   282g
ISBN:   9798893030600
Series:   The Shortest History Series
Pages:   304
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Preface Timeline Introduction Part 1: The Shortest History of Migration The First Migrants Peopled Planet Empire and Trade Voyages of Discovery and Destruction Slavery Coercion and Control Age of Mass Migration Passports and Problems Wars, Mass Mobilization, and Expulsions Migrants in the Postwar World Part 2: Migration Today and Tomorrow Who is a Migrant? Migration and the Economy Migration and Development The Future of Migration Acknowledgments Further Reading Endnotes Index About the Author

Ian Goldin is the Oxford University Professor of Globalization and Development and founding director of the Oxford Martin School, the world's leading center for interdisciplinary research into critical global challenges, where he has established forty-five research programs. Previously, he was vice president of the World Bank and its Head of Policy, responsible for its collaboration with the United Nations and key partners. He served as adviser to President Nelson Mandela, has been knighted by the French government, and is the author of three BBC series. Ian has been an advisor to numerous businesses, governments, and foundations and is a founding trustee of the International Center for Future Generations and Chair of the CORE Econ initiative to transform economics. He is the author of twenty-five books, including Age of the City, which was selected by the Financial Times as one of its best books of 2023.

Reviews for The Shortest History of Migration: When, Why and How Humans Move - from the Prehistoric Peopling of the Planet to Today's Refugee Crisis

[A] bold and compelling account of the story of migration ... generally shifts the global picture away from the usual suspects--the USA and Western Europe. There is much to admire in this book for both old hands and newcomers to the subject.--Robin Cohen, author of Migration: The Movement of Humankind From Prehistory to the Present [A]n indispensable guide to our common origins--and our shared destiny.--Parag Khanna, author of Connectography Ian Goldin is one of the great authorities on globalization.--Gordon Brown, former UK prime minister Impressively succinct yet wide-ranging ... convincingly shows that migration has always been an integral part of humanity.--Hein de Haas, author of How Migration Really Works A uniquely informative account of the state of the world in the 21st century. A riveting account of humanity's most pressing challenges and innovative solutions.--Steven Pinker, Harvard psychology professor and New York Times-bestselling author, on Ian Goldin's Terra Incognita


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