What’s new about new destinations? Cinderella states and the comparative study of migration

Abstract

ABSTRACT Immigrant political incorporation is a concern of Europe and the U.S., but the process in the latter is seen as more successful owing to its immigration history, minority politics, and institutions. While comparative analysis has largely focused on post-war receiving states, since the 1990s, migration flows have significantly changed. What’s new about new destinations? And what might these cases suggest for the future of comparative research on political incorporation? This article uses existing frameworks for transatlantic comparisons and applies them to a broader pool of European cases. It argues that new destinations may have more in common with the U.S. than their old destination neighbors due to their emigration history, minority politics, and distinct welfare and labor institutions. It also finds more points of Europe-U.S. convergence than often allowed for in the literature. Together, this suggests opportunities for new comparative research to better understand incorporation dynamics within and beyond Europe.