Book review: Handbook of Migration and Health
| Published date | 01 March 2018 |
| Date | 01 March 2018 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1388262718760915 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
Author biography
Filip Bojic
´is a Lecturer in Labour Law and Social Security Law at the Faculty of Law, University
of Belgrade and a PhD candidate at Belgrade University. His interests include social security law,
especially on unemployment insurance and old-age pensions.
Felicity Thomas (ed.), Handbook of Migration and Health, Cheltenham and Northampton: Edward
Elgar Publishing, 2016, 544 pages, ISBN 978-1-78471-477-2.
Reviewed by: Constanze Janda, German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, Germany
DOI: 10.1177/1388262718760915
Since the so-called ‘refugee crisis’ with its enormous increase in the number of persons seeking
asylum in EU Member States in 2015, migration law has left its niche and gained broader attention
in the scientific community and brought about a wide range of new literature on many aspects of
migration. Felicity Thomas’ Handbook on Migration and Health deserves special attention since it
does not focus on refugees but covers a broad range of migration issues from forced migration to
labour migration, affecting all age groups from children to the elderly, as well as different health
issues ranging from mental health and occupational health to disabilities and chronic illnesses. The
aim of the book is not only to give an overview on current debates about migration and health, but
also to provide a counterbalance against the politically motivated cutback of migrants’ rights,
especially in Europe.
The right to life and physical integrity is a human right. Its implementation not only requires
that states abolish torture and refrain from violating the physical integrity of persons. It goes
beyond a mere negative right in that states must ensure access to health care, which constitutes
the positive dimension of this right. Legal rules on equal access to health care for migrants are
well-established in the national law of most countries. However, the effective use of those rights is
often hindered by many factors. The anthology approaches these barriers from an interdisciplinary
perspective.
The book is structured in seven parts and consists of 27 chapters. The short introduction (I) is
followed by a more general review of the ‘Theories and Models of Migration’ (II); the issues of
‘Rights and Deservingness’ (III); ‘Vulnerability and Precariousness’ (IV) and ‘Specific Healthcare
Needs and Priorities’ (V) are intensively discussed, before the authors address ‘Specific Cases of
Healthcare Provision’ (VI). The book concludes with a chapter reflecting on the role of ‘Transna-
tional and Diasporic Networks’ (VII).
In her introduction, Felicity Thomas reflects on the interrelationship of migration and health and
paints a multifaceted picture of migration as a determinant of health and well-being and, at the
same time, health issues as a reason for migration. She states that migration policy and health
policy are often inconsistent, limited to the national level and often focussing on partial aspects
only. The perception of migration as a threat to security and – based on that – restrictive policies
towards immigrants lead to a considerable worsening of their living conditions, to social isolation
and discrimination, which may, in return, negatively affect their health status.
Book reviews 75
To continue reading
Request your trial