ABSTRACT
International migration, the flow of people across political boundaries, is a complex geographical process that is largely driven today by the forces of globalization, transnationalism and cross-cultural interactions. Within the context of rational choice theory, the process may be characterized as an inherent aspect of human behaviour as individuals rationalize and act on their inner quest for better chances in life by relocating to new environments that are deemed to be more lucrative, safer and healthier than their communities of origin. Evidence garnered throughout history, and particularly in the last century, shows that migration has played a central role in the social, economic and demographic transformation of many world regions. Alongside these changes have been the larger societal concerns in the sending and recipient countries on matters relating to brain-drain vs. brain-gain, occupational hazards, worker rights and equity, acculturation, assimilation vs. transnationalism, discrimination and xenophobia, human and drug trafficking, terrorism and homeland security, emergent diseases and migrant health. This chapter examines some of these concerns focusing on the connections between global mobility and immigrant health geographies.
