MACMILLAN Immigration Policy and Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe

Immigration has become one of the central issues dominating the agenda of political parties, and has also played a crucial role in the rise of right-wing populism in Western Europe. This book explores the role of conservative parties in immigration policy change. The following questions are addressed: What explains the introduction of restrictive immigration policies across a number of European states? Why do conservative parties choose to toughen their immigration policy stances? How can we explain the variation in the factors that affect conservative parties’ immigration policy-making logics? What mechanisms account for the dynamics of immigration policy change or policy deadlock? Based on interviews with political elites and policy makers in the UK, Switzerland and France, the book explains why governmental conservative parties in these countries revised their immigration policy stances and steered immigration policy in a more restrictive direction between 2002 and 2015. Review "This topical book offers a well-researched account of right-wing parties and their troubled relationship with matters of immigration. McKeever highlights the role of institutions and party systems, but also of nationalism, to accessibly explain this puzzle.” (Pontus Odmalm, Senior Lecturer in Politics, The University of Edinburgh, UK) “At a time when questions about immigration policy sit so prominently in European politics, this book offers an informed and measured insight into how parties of the right have formed their positions and the factors that shape and constrain them.” (Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics, University of Surrey, UK)“This book focuses on one of the most pressing policy priorities of our time – immigration. Focusing particularly on external factors which explain shifts in immigration policy, McKeever guides the reader through the impact of public opinion, perceived economic implications, party competition, identity anxieties, the effects of EU integration and, in one case, ideological dogmatism, making a hugely important contribution to research on party policy change, the dynamics of policy change and the literature on Euroscepticism.” (Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Professor of Politics and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ulster University, UK) From the Back Cover Immigration has become one of the central issues dominating the agenda of political parties, and has also played a crucial role in the rise of right-wing populism in Western Europe. This book explores the role of conservative parties in immigration policy change. The following questions are addressed: What explains the introduction of restrictive immigration policies across a number of European states? Why do conservative parties choose to toughen their immigration policy stances? How can we explain the variation in the factors that affect conservative parties’ immigration policy-making logics? What mechanisms account for the dynamics of immigration policy change or policy deadlock? Based on interviews with political elites and policy makers in the UK, Switzerland and France, the book explains why governmental conservative parties in these countries revised their immigration policy stances and steered immigration policy in a more restrictive direction between 2002 and 2015. Anna McKeever is Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland, UK. Her research interests include party politics, immigration and populism. About the Author Anna McKeever is Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of the West of Scotland, UK. Her research interests include party politics, immigration and populism.