The migration movements of the 20th century have led to an increased
interest in similarly dramatic population changes in the preceding
century. The contributors to this volume - legal scholars, sociologists,
political scientist and historians - focus on migration control in the
19th century, concentrating on three areas in particular: the impact of
the French Revolution on the development of modern citizenship laws and
on the development of new forms of migration control in France and
elsewhere; the theory and practice of migration control in various
European states is examined, focusing on the control of paupers,
emigrants and "ordinary" travelers as well as on the interrelationship
between the different administrative levels - local, regional and
national - at which migration control was exercised. Finally, on the
development of migration control in two countries of immigration: the
United States and France. Taken altogether, these essays demonstrate
conclusively that the image of the 19th century as a liberal era during
which migration was unaffected by state intervention is untenable and in
serious need of revision.
