Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Immigration and Asylum: From 1900 to the Present. Edited by Matthew J. Gibney and Randall Hansen. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC CLIO, 2005. 3 vols. 1095 p. $285.00. ISBN 1-57607-796-9.

The current focus on illegal immigrants makes immigration and asylum a topic in most social studies classrooms and they will be delighted to have this reference available. It encompasses history, politics, foreign policy and ethnic groups. The editors chose four themes in which to divide the articles: immigration and asylum, the major émigré groups, history and the politics of migration. An alphabetical list of entries is given in the forward of all three volumes. The coverage is worldwide providing a chance to study such topics as family reunification from a variety of perspectives, many of which would be new to our students. The many charts provide useful statistics. Black and white photographs illustrate some articles. The third volume contains documents and includes the 1992 Treaty of European Union and the various documents both preceding and following this as well as the index to all three volumes. Students who wish to study the progress of the European Union and its influence on trade could make some predictions based upon what has already occurred and what will happen when the EU Accession Countries are admitted. Students who are themselves immigrants will be interested in the articles on dual citizenship. Others who think they might want to migrate to another country can review the rules and regulations for such an experience, although with any reference, final research should be at a country’s embassy. While this information would be available in other locations, having it in a single volume puts things into context, offering current information on many aspects of this very hot topic.