Letter from the Editors

Abstract

The year 2024 has underscored the continued centrality of migration in global political and social discourse. With the persistence and emergence of conflicts worldwide, migration—whether forced or voluntary—remains of critical importance, highlighting the urgency of addressing its complexities and challenges. The ongoing clashes in Ukraine, which have resulted in 4 million internally displaced individuals and 6.8 million registered refugees according to UN estimates, serve as one of many stark reminders of migration's human toll. Simultaneously, conflicts in Gaza, which have displaced 1.9 million, Lebanon with 1.3 million internally displaced, and Sudan, where over 11 million have been displaced, further stress the capacity of humanitarian systems worldwide.

Across the globe, migration continues to shape political and social debates. The 2024 European Parliament elections marked a shift in the EU's political landscape, with far-right parties achieving unprecedented representation on the EU level. Possible policy shifts on migration, integration and citizenship remain to be seen with the resurgence of far-right parties all over Europe and the re-election of Donald Trump as US President in 2024. Although its regional impact is expected to be more pronounced, another significant development with global implications is the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was adopted in 2024. This Pact, characterized by restrictive measures, shifts the responsibilities of migration governance predominantly onto third countries, with the long-established logic of externalization. It is evident that the effects of this Pact will be felt in the coming years. These events underline the need for democratic debate and evidence-based policymaking in addressing migration's complex realities.

In its pursuit of advancing migration scholarship, International Migration has remained a leading platform for rigorous and impactful research. The publications in 2024 explored diverse themes, including the economic impacts of return migration, digital literacy in migration services and the intersections of migration with gender, race and age. Groundbreaking studies highlighted the resilience strategies of refugees, the criminalization of migrants and the transformative potential of refugee entrepreneurship.

Our commentaries section featured incisive analyses on pivotal topics focusing on the intersection of migration with gender, identity politics, age and race. Issue 62:1 and 62:2 included commentaries exploring the intersection of migration and gender studies (Cleton & Scuzzarello, 2024; Fresnoza-Flot, 2024; Garcia Rodriguez & Giametta, 2024; Clack-Kazak, 2024). Issue 62:3 featured commentaries by Yurdakul (2024) and Kaya (2024), exploring the intersection of migration and identity politics. With a focus on ageing and migration, Fargues (2024), Fokkema (2024) and Hunter and Torres (2024) contribute insights into this emerging nexus. The commentaries in issue 5 touched on issues of race with contributions from Solomos (2024), De Genova (2024) and Statham (2024). The final issue of the year engaged with the World Development Report 2023 published by the World Bank, offering critical insights into migration governance by key scholars Beatty Riedl and Wolford (2024), Kumar, Lyon, Gleeson (2024), Liao (2024) and Wolford (2024).

International Migration continues to invite special issue submissions, providing a platform to address gaps in existing scholarship. In 2024, the special issue, In-betweeners' in Turbulent Times: Migrants in the Epicentre of Diverse Crises in Europe and the Americas, edited by Ana Margheritis, Anastasia Bermúdez, Gioconda Herrera and Beatriz Padilla, examined migration amidst poly-crises in Europe and the Americas. The issue offered a comprehensive analysis of how diverse crises reshape migration patterns, projects and experiences.

With the release of the first issue of 2025, the editors extend gratitude to contributing authors for choosing International Migration, reviewers for their diligent efforts in the peer review process, journal readers for their continued engagement, Wiley colleagues for technical support and the International Organization for Migration for sponsoring our journal.

We encourage our community to actively engage with the journal in 2025. Whether by submitting articles, participating in peer reviews, or sharing published works, your contributions are vital to fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas. As we navigate migration's complexities in an ever-changing world, let us remain committed to fostering informed dialogue and developing solutions that uphold dignity, equity and justice. Together, we can ensure that International Migration continues to be a cornerstone of migration scholarship and a beacon for inclusive, forward-looking research.