The Intenational Journal on Mulicultural Societies (IJMS) is a scholarly and professional journal, published by UNESCO. It provides a platform for international, interdisciplinary and policy-related social science research in the fields of migration, multiculturalism, and minority rights.

The present thematic issue of UNESCO’s International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS) takes up the debate on migration and multiculturalism. Whereas previous issues (Vol. 5, No 1 & 2) have highlighted the differences in patterns of cultural diversity in industrialised and post-colonial countries, the present selection of papers focuses on contemporary challenges in managing migration and integration. The articles highlight problems concerning the entry and settlement of migrants and their descendents which have direct relevance for policy formulation.

By including cases from the Asia Pacific region and Europe in its comparative framework, the present thematic issue attempts to broaden the transatlantic perspective that prevails in social science migration research. A particularly important point emerging from the analyses is, moreover, that designing policies of migration and integration has to take into account international factors of population movements; policies that implement the human rights of migrants are thus of utmost international concern.

Inglis, Christine and Koenig, Matthias. Thematic Introduction. IJMS: International Journal on Multicultural Societies. 2004, vol. 6, no.2, pp. 196-201. UNESCO. ISSN 1817-4574.