Starting with the role of engine of progress which migration has had for 50.000 years now in evolution of societies and the positive effect migration has over the countries of origin, of destination, over migrants themselves and the world, the authors argue that the future of international migration is a word without frontiers.

The reforms proposed to this effect have 5 principles of global migration at the basis: transnational rights, promotion of social and economic progress of migrants, extension of legal migrating, fighting against xenophobia, discrimination and abuse, improving the data collection system.

The authors admit that the interest of nation states, governments, electorate and mass-media conditions the proposed reforms. The solution would be centralized management of international migration by incorporating the International Organization for Migration in the United Nations system, aiming to liberalize migration, initiate negotiations, set standards, monitor governmental policies, conduct research and offer technical assistance to developing nations.

Chapter I offers a summary of migration in the history of mankind till Columbus. Migration is seen as a factor of social progress, serving as vehicle for transmitting new ideas, to accelerate learning and innovation.

Chapter II continues with the European exploration era (the colonial empires) till the contemporary nation states and the apparition of state control over immigration (1914).

Chapter IIII analyzes migration between WW1 and 1973 and the central role of nation states in the reglementation of migration in this interval. Migration management is defined as states attempting to control how many people enter the country, where they come from, what rights they have and what resources they can tap into.

The failure of management migration is manifest in the increase in the number of immigration without papers, the number of detention centres, human trafficking, traumatized refugees and border deaths.

The second part of the books describes the current knowledge of migration determiners at a micro and macro level, state policies regarding migrant categories, frontier control based on improving technology and surveillance, as well as the impact of migration over migrants, countries of origin and destination.

Though the books proposes migration growth as a solution to the economic and demographic problems which the developed states are dealing with, it is unclear how the reforms in migration policies will be implemented and how will the negative effects of open borders will be resolved. This implies a large number of immigrants.

Exceptional People is a recent book, excellent through the examples it brings forth to argue the positive effects of migration at the level of countries of origin and destination, society and immigrants, but unrealistic with respect to a future without borders.

Note: The collection Immigrants & Minorities can be read online at the Centre of Research and Documentation in the Immigrants’ Integration Field - 43 Soldat Velicu Ștefan St., district 2, Bucharest, e-mail: office@cdcdi.ro – by the network members.