Young EU Migrants in London in the Transition to Brexit

Book excerpt: London has long been a magnet for migrants, millions of whom have been attracted by its economic, educational and cultural roles as a truly global city. This book examines recent European migration to the London region through the narrated experiences of a large number of younger migrants from ‘old’ and ‘new’ EU member states, of varying educational and skill backgrounds. The research opens multiple windows into the lives of young EU migrants from six different countries before and after the 2016 Referendum on 'Brexit'. A key concept which lies at the core of the analysis is the interrelationship between geographical mobility and the youth transition to adulthood. Among the dimensions documented are study and employment trajectories, housing and social inclusion, identity and belonging, and transnational ties. By paying attention to young people's own accounts of their mobile lives, the research pushes the boundaries of traditional understandings of youth transitions and life paths. As an indispensable account of young EU migrants during the Brexit process, the book will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students across the social sciences, especially those interested in migration, youth studies and European studies, as well as researchers and policy-makers.