Guests and Aliens

by Saskia Sassen

Guests and Aliens presents a comprehensive analysis of worldwide immigration by one of the world's leading experts on globalization. Putting the current "crisis" of immigration into a historical context for the first time, Sassen suggests that the American experience represents only one phase in a history of global border crossing. She describes the mass migrations of Italians and Eastern European Jews during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and the international dislocations―particularly after the end of World War II―that have engendered the "refugee" concept. Using these examples, Sassen explores the causes of immigration that have resulted in nations' welcoming incomers as "guests" or disparaging them as "aliens," and outlines an "enlightened approach" ( Publishers Weekly ) to improving US and European immigration policies.

Genres: History, Sociology, Nonfiction, Immigration

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Saskia Sassen (born in The Hague, January 5, 1949) is a Dutch sociologist noted for her analyses of globalization and international human migration. She is currently Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and Centennial visiting Professor at the London School of Economics. Sassen coined the term global city.

After being a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, Sassen held various academic positions both in and outside the USA, such as the Ralph Lewis Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago. She is currently Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and Centennial Visiting Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Sassen emerged as a prolific author in urban sociology. She studied the impacts of globalisation such as economic restructuring, and how the movements of labour and capital influence urban life. She also studied the influence of communication technology on governance. Sassen observed how nation states begin to lose power to control these developments, and she studied increasing general transnationalism, including transnationalhuman migration. She identified and described the phenomenon of the global city. Her 1991 book bearing this title quickly made her a frequently quoted author on globalisation worldwide. A revised and updated edition of her book was published in 2001. She currently (2006) is pursuing her research and writing on immigration and globalization, with her "denationalization" and "transnationalism" projects (see Bibliography and External Links, below). Sassen's books have been translated into 21 languages.

Reviews

[The Blaxpat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book presents interesting data and arguments about the role of migration (imm and em, included) in the making of modern Europe. Namely, it argues that migration is not just a question of immigrants' agency, but cultural, social, economic and legal policies of the adoptive country. Presenting historical findings dissected by nation and type of migrant, the book offers a temporal element to contextualize refugees (politically motivated), labor migrants (short term, blue collar work) and career migrants (government and colonial, white collar workers). It debunks myths of cultural purity and questions the existence of a pre-lapsarian, pre-migration Europe.

This text is not a survey so it may lack the level of depth some readers require. And it also extrapolates policy arguments that may not be realistic given the most recent "refugee crisis" in Europe. Overall, this is a useful text for migration scholars, but arguably less so for policy makers.

[Ram · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saskia Sassen is a sossiologist and sshe'ss sso sssstupid. I mean, modern-day immigrants are like "pioneers" but on the urban landscape instead of the range? Wow. You must be really famous if you can write that down and let other people see it and still get it published.

[Gabriel Conroy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thesis of the book: Intra-Europe migrants for a long time didn't have to worry about border crossings. Then they did. Now, with the strengthening of the EU, they don't have to as much anymore.

Now you don't have to read the book.