MACMILLAN The International Organization for Migration: The New ‘UN Migration Agency’ in Critical Perspective (International Political Economy Series)

In 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) became part of the United Nations. With 173 member states and more than 400 field offices, the IOM―the new ‘UN migration agency’―plays a key role in migration governance. The contributors in this volume provide an in-depth and comprehensive insight into the IOM, its transformation, current structure and projects, as well as its capacity, self-understanding and political agenda. Review “Understanding the present and future of global migration governance requires a thorough engagement with the IOM. … Geiger and Pécoud’s volume is an important contribution towards redressing that gap. It offers readers a critical and thought-provoking analysis of the neo-liberal, technocratic and depoliticizing logics that underlie the IOM’s discourse and practice. … this volume is an important resource for scholars interested in the current transformations of migration management and their potential implications at global, regional and local levels.” (João Terrenas, International Affairs, Vol. 97 (3), 2021) Review “Has the IOM become the UN migration agency, and if so, is it beneficial or not for the migrants? This collective book recasts with brio the IOM’s transformation in a truly interdisciplinary way, crossing the views of political scientists, lawyers, sociologists of migration. The result is impressive and thought provoking. We are effectively at a turning point for global migration and freedom of movement in the world.” (Didier Bigo, Professor of Sociology, Sciences Po Paris, France) “Who has the expert authority to speak about international migration? This volume documents the ambitious rise of the IOM as it claims the mantle of ‘UN Migration Agency’. Rich case studies show the interplay between the agency’s own soft power and its tendency to serve the will of powerful patrons. For an inside view of a process that continues to unfold, look no further than this volume.” (David Scott FitzGerald, Gildred Chair in U.S.-Mexican Relations and Co-Director, Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, University of California San Diego, USA) “A much needed and timely book that sheds light on the different, obvious and hidden ways in which a transnational governance of migration regime is evolving. This book investigates critically the new role of IOM as the UN migration agency in managing flows and borders in often non-visible ways. It is a must-read for both academics and practitioners working in the field international migration.” (Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Ryerson University, Canada) “The most up-to-date and encompassing research on IOM. A must-read for those who are interested in migration and mobility studies, and the increasing role of IOM in migration politics.” (Zhenjiang Zhang, Professor and Dean, School of International Studies/Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University, China) From the Back Cover ‘This book recasts with brio the IOM’s transformation. The result is impressive and thought-provoking.’ ― Didier Bigo, Professor of Sociology, Sciences Po Paris, France ‘Rich case studies show the interplay between the IOM’s soft power and its tendency to serve the will of powerful patrons. For an inside view of a process that continues to unfold, look no further than this volume.’ ― David Scott FitzGerald, Gildred Chair in U.S.-Mexican Relations and Co-Director, Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, University of California San Diego, USA ‘A much needed and timely book. This book critically investigates the new role of the IOM as the UN agency responsible for managing people flows and borders.’ ― Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Ryerson University Toronto, Canada ‘The most up-to-date and encompassing research on the IOM. A must-read for those who are interested in migration