ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the concept of mobility and looks at the waves of cross-national mobilities within and from Europe from peak of globalisation at the end of the 19th century up until the 1970s. Migration within Europe has been governed by the political structure of the European Union (EU) as well as of its member states, facilitating some quite distinctive mobility flows, ranging from East-West migration to high public transport use in cities. The EU has created a distinct geographical space within which all European citizens can move freely. It was clearly hoped that this freedom of movement would increase the mobility of labour within the EU and at the same time contribute to the further development of a shared European identity. Today, ‘movers’ within the old EU are now more likely among the well-educated and the well-paid. The acquisition of ‘mobility capital’ by working abroad is believed to be an important advantage for a European professional or career.
