Policy Shifts and the Depoliticization of Immigration

Abstract

While clear evidence indicates that restrictive immigration policies are motivated by fears of potential support for anti-immigration movements, there is also evidence from Austria and Switzerland showing that such policies fail to diminish opposition to immigration. This chapter analyses the seemingly inconsistent relationship between changes in immigration policy and the level of politicization of immigration. Using political claims data from seven Western European countries between 199 S and 2010, the chapter concludes that, whereas the politicization of immigration policies is somewhat responsive to changes in immigration policy, the politicization of integration policies is significantly more responsive to changes in integration policy. The chapter also indicates that these effects are conditional on the perceived position of the party implementing the policy change.