Immigration, Social Cohesion and Political Reaction

This book addresses the challenge for social integration posed by immigration into Western liberal democracies. Movement of people, goods and money across borders has increased in recent decades – the phenomenon known as globalisation. But it has been the migration of refugees from civil wars in the Middle East which has most transformed the political life of European societies, causing the decline in support for the traditional conservative and social democratic parties. It has triggered nationalistic mobilisations and authoritarian regimes, as well as attempts to improved integration in societies. The coronavirus pandemic has added a dimension to these processes, but also opened up new possibilities for transformation.