Return and Circular Migration in Contemporary European History

Migration is often viewed as a one-way process, from the country of origin to the place of arrival, but recent academic research shows that this presumption is fundamentally flawed. Return migration has always been part of migration movements, as a glimpse into the past such as transatlantic returns in the 19th century, the return of migrant workers and refugees in the 20th century, and the study of many other forced and willing migrations show impressively. The volume thus invites to reconceptualize studies in migration history by shifting away from the focus on "going away" to a more complex one revolving around a plurality of issues of leaving, returning, moving on and traveling again, belonging and fluid identities in the "third space". Despite the boom in migration studies, return migration is still a neglected topic within migration history. This book aims to shed some light on the field of return and circular migration by showcasing a broad array of case studies and methodologies. Expert contributors give insights into various aspects of European trans-remigration, the African experience, and the challenges of archiving, researching, and analyzing re-migration. It reaches out to a wide audience and invites new research in the field.