Special Issue – Sebastian M. Büttner, Karim Fertikh & Nikola Tietze (Eds.): The Making of European Labour Mobility: Histories, Manifestations, and Contestations.

The special issue Making of European Labour Mobility: Histories, Manifestations, and Contestations offers a comprehensive exploration of the socio-historical development and current challenges surrounding labour mobility in Europe. Moving beyond the traditional focus on European integration and the EU, this special issue deliberately examines the principle of free movement as a longstanding, evolving concept rooted in broader historical and international contexts. By critically analyzing the social impact and governance of cross-border mobility, it highlights the multifaceted interplay of expertise, legal practices, social policies, and economic forces that have shaped labour mobility across Europe. The book traces the development of migration policies from the early 20th century to the present, addressing issues such as workers’ rights, social security, and the rise of political and economic tensions that now challenge the free movement of labour. Against this backdrop, it also reflects on the future of European integration in an era of growing contestation and re-nationalization.