Book Review: Handbook on Migration and Ageing by Sandra Torres and Alistair Hunter (eds.)
Published date | 01 March 2024 |
DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/13882627241234144 |
Author | Kristina Balenović |
Date | 01 March 2024 |
successes, and instead presents a balanced view that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of policy
development in these nations. By doing so, the book provides a more realistic and nuanced under-
standing that is particularly beneficial for policymakers and scholars.
In conclusion, Law and Social Policy in the Global South: Brazil, China, India, South Africa is a
substantial contribution to the field of social policy and law. Its comparative approach, critical ana-
lysis, and emphasis on historical and cultural contexts offer a fresh and comprehensive perspective
on the subject. This book is highly recommended for scholars and researchers interested in social
policy in the Global South, as well as for policymakers seeking a deeper understanding of the com-
plexities and challenges in policy development. It would also be a valuable resource for graduate
students and educators in courses related to law, social policy, and development in the Global
South. This book is testament to the importance of understanding the interplay between law and
social policy in these diverse and dynamic regions, and its critical insights make it an essential add-
ition to the existing literature on the subject.
Sandra Torres and Alistair Hunter (eds.) Handbook on Migration and Ageing, Edward Elgar Publishing:
Cheltenham, UK, 2023; 356 pages, ISBN 978 1 83910 676 7
Reviewed by: Kristina Balenović,Independent Consultant, Croatia
DOI: 10.1177/13882627241234144
The main purpose of the Handbook on Migration and Ageing is to bring together progress on
migration and ageing in a single book. This handbook, touching upon ethnicity, loneliness,
welfare regimes, use of ICT, dementia, confrontation with sickness and dying, among other
issues, offers researchers and academics an extensive overview of many areas relevant to the con-
nections between migration and ageing.
The handbook has three parts. Part I defines the concepts used, Part II combines categories at the
intersection of migration and ageing, whereas Part III focuses on the agency and vulnerability
aspects of older migrants.
In Part I, we learn about the life course and its constituent elements. Stephen Katz and Amanda
Grenier state that ‘age is a fundamental organizing principle of social life’, with ‘migratory experi-
ence…’ as a ‘…constant source of community building, conflict resolution, survival ingenuity and
intergenerational care’(Katz, Chapter 2). In Part II, more attention is paid to categories and con-
cepts linked to migration and ageing: ‘stayers’and ‘leavers’, labour migration, circular migration,
family unification, the ‘zero generation’(parents of first-generation migrants who may follow their
children to the country of destination) and ‘left-behind’older people. Many of the connections
involve older migrants as carers for children, taking on the roles of grandmothers and grandfathers,
regardless of their original migration position. Their status and wellbeing are addressed in various
combinations and from different angles, from the perspective of both the country of origin and the
country (ies) of destination. This analysis provides valuable insights into family dynamics and trad-
itional bonds between family members, and sheds light on the ongoing shortages in childcare pro-
vision in many countries of the Global North. Finally, Part III addresses the vulnerability of older
Book Reviews 89
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