New migration' in the 1990s: a retrospective

The starting point is a framework proposed in 1993 by Stephen Castles which describes the existence of a 'new age' of migration that translates into new challenges for nation states in respect of issues of multiculturalism, citizenship and the salience of racism.

The paper considers some of the key theoretical and conceptual issues raised by Castles against the empirical realities of trends and developments over the last decade. The paper argues that whilst there is no direct causal link between the growing diversity of global migratory processes and current UK issues of multiculturalism, citizenship and racism there is a need for better targeted research to examine the effects and impacts of new migrant flows as distinct from the ongoing progression and development of well established and mature minority ethnic communities within the UK.