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The Politics of International Migration

The Politics of International Migration. Class 17 – Thursday, 5 November 2009 J A Morrison. Guy Fawkes. The Politics of International Migration. Beyond the Economics Migration Politics Migration Trends: Yesterday and Today Explaining Migration Policy.

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The Politics of International Migration

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  1. The Politics of International Migration Class 17 – Thursday, 5 November 2009J A Morrison Guy Fawkes

  2. The Politics of International Migration • Beyond the Economics • Migration Politics • Migration Trends: Yesterday and Today • Explaining Migration Policy

  3. The Politics of International Migration • Beyond the Economics • Migration Politics • Migration Trends: Yesterday and Today • Explaining Migration Policy

  4. Last time, we thought about migration primarily as an economic phenomenon.Migrants were a factor of production, albeit a “special” factor.

  5. But… ≠

  6. >

  7. Obviously, shuffling people around is not the same (economically) as shipping commodities or wiring capital.But migration has some considerable non-economic dimensions as well.

  8. Social/Cultural Effects of Immigration • Cultural diversification • Better food: Tikka Masala • Ethnic tension: Sharks & Jets; • Linguistic division  challenges to social fabric and organization

  9. Social/Cultural Effects of Emigration • Homogenization of population • E.g. Central & Eastern Europe after WWII • Loss of particular socio-economic classes • “Brain drain” • Loss of “undesirables” • Creation of Migration/Diaspora culture • Consciousness of loss: Ireland; Africa

  10. Jewish Life in Holland Marcus Garvey “Ireland Forever”

  11. Nas’ New Album

  12. Political Dimension • Redistribution of political power • Introduction of alternative political culture • Can non-democratic peoples live in a democracy? • Security concerns • Terrorists & criminals as “migrants” • Movement of contraband • Liberty • Should we restrict the freedom of movement? • Allowing migration to protect human rights

  13. The Politics of International Migration • Beyond the Economics • Migration Politics • Migration Trends: Yesterday and Today • Explaining Migration Policy

  14. II. Migration Politics • Integration • Migration & Security • Migration under Duress • Migration Policy Across Time

  15. One of the key political questions about migration is: how well do migrants integrate into their adopted societies?

  16. The Melting Pot "America is God's Crucible, the great Melting-Pot where all the races of Europe are melting and reforming... Germans and Frenchmen, Irishmen and Englishmen, Jews and Russians - into the Crucible with you all! God is making the American.” -- Israel Zangwill, The Melting Pot (1908)

  17. “There is no room in this country for -hyphenated Americanism…When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans…The men who do not become Americans and nothing else are hyphenated Americans; and there ought to be no room for them in this country…The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else.” – Teddy Roosevelt, Address to the Knights of Columbus (12 October 1915)

  18. But not everyone agrees.Samuel Huntington suggests the latest group of immigrants into the US is different from all the previous groups…

  19. “In the end, the results could be similar: the creation of a large, distinct, Spanish-speaking community with economic and political resources sufficient to sustain its Hispanic identity apart from the national identity of other Americans and also able to influence U.S. politics, government, and society.” – Samuel Huntington, The Hispanic Challenge

  20. This position has a long, distinguished pedigree…

  21. “They will bring with them the principles of the government they leave…These principles, with their language, they will transmit to their children. In proportion to their numbers, they will share with us the legislation. They will infuse into it their spirit, warp and bias its direction, and render it a heterogeneous, incoherent mass” – Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia 1784

  22. And these views may be more prevalent than we immediately suspect…

  23. Nick Griffin • Chairman of the British National Party (BNP) • Member of the European Parliament for North West England (Griffin explains his surreptitious strategy. YouTube)

  24. II. Migration Politics • Melting Pots? • Migration & Security • Migration under Duress • Migration Policy Across Time

  25. Over time, many have feared migrants would be the instruments of foreign governments and interests.

  26. Which brings us to Guy Fawkes…

  27. Gunpowder Plot of 1605 • 1558: Elizabeth I confirms English Reformation • 1602: Pope orders English Jesuits to resist Protestant Succession • 1603: James I ascends, disappoint Catholics • Gunpowder Plot is devised to kill king, start rebellion, and install James’ nine-year-old daughter as Catholic monarch • Guy Fawkes buries gunpowder under House of Lords • 5 Nov 1605: Plot is discovered & Fawkes arrested

  28. While the conspirators were primarily English, many contemporaries viewed them as acting at the behest of foreign interests (i.e. the Pope).The Gunpowder Plot inspired dramatic anti-Catholic sentiment and redoubled English efforts to root out foreign allegiances.

  29. (Happy Guy Fawkes Day.)

  30. John Locke went so far as to advocate a “general naturalization”—a policy of accepting just about anyone.

  31. “Naturalisation is the shortest and easiest way of increasing your people, which all wise governments have encouraged by privileges granted to the fathers of children…And that because (1) People are the strength of any country or government…[and] (2) 'Tis the number of people that make the riches of any country.” – John Locke, “For a General Naturalization” (1693)

  32. And Locke advocated toleration.But he famously excepted Roman Catholics, on the grounds that their allegiances lay with Rome, not London.

  33. Is all of this fear justified?

  34. Migrants’ Violence Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (June 1914) Assassination of William McKinley (Sept 1901)

  35. And, of course…

  36. II. Migration Politics • Melting Pots? • Migration & Security • Migration under Duress • Migration Policy Across Time

  37. Frequently, migration occurs under duress. The “pushes” and “pulls” are often coercive.

  38. Slavery • Israelites in Egypt • Caesar & Gaul • Iroqouis’ mourning wars • African slavery

  39. Expulsion • 1492: Spain expels Moors • 19th C: US expels blacks & Native Americans from various territories • 1840s: Irish Catholics “encouraged” to leave(?) • 1930s & 1940s: Nazi Germany’s expulsion of Jews, gypsies, other minorities • 1980: Castro sends criminals & insane to US

  40. And sometimes migration is forcibly limited…

  41. The Berlin Wall Korean DMZ

  42. II. Migration Politics • Melting Pots? • Migration & Security • Migration under Duress • Migration Policy Across Time

  43. US Immigration Policy across Time • 1798 – Alien and Sedition Acts • French Revolution, here? No thanks. • 1840s-1850s – Know Nothing Party • Fears about the Irish and German • Native American Resettlement (Indian Removal Act of 1830) • Anti-Asian – Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), White Australia Policy (1901), Gentleman’s Agreement (1907) • Early 20th C –Literacy Test (1917), Quota Act (1921) • Fears about Southern and Eastern Europeans, “Radicals,” Communists • Today – Radical Right in Europe, Minute Men • Fears about Hispanics in the US, Muslims in Europe

  44. Key Issues in Current Debate • Illegal immigrants: 12-15 million in US • Border security/ fence • High Tech workers • Guest worker programs • Employer sanctions • National ID

  45. 2007 Immigration Reform Act • A “Compromise” Bill • Conservatives: Increased border security • Amnesty (essentially) for current “illegals” • Shift bias for new immigrants to high-skilled • Stillborn • A majority of Americans supported it • But Congress never voted on it, let it die • Why?  Seems that compromise included deal-breakers for both sides

  46. The Politics of International Migration • Beyond the Economics • Migration Politics • Migration Trends: Yesterday and Today • Explaining Migration Policy

  47. World migration 100 years ago • Important differences between 19th century and today: • Europe has become a net receiver • Latin America has become a net sender • Much more migration between developing countries today than before

  48. World Migration Today

  49. Who is Moving Today? • 2008: 190.6 million people (3% of world population)  Still less than in the 19th Century (~5%) • Refugees only 7.1% of migrants • Mostly low skill labor

  50. US immigration over time • Key differences over time: • Allowed in many more people in 19th century per capita • Immigration per capita has not returned to the levels seen in 19th century

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