Immigration and the Politics of Social Cohesion

TY - JOUR

T1 - Immigration and the Politics of Social Cohesion

AU - Holtug, Nils

PY - 2010/12

Y1 - 2010/12

N2 - According to the social cohesion argument for restrictive immigration policies, immigration causes ethnic diversity and ethnic diversity undermines social cohesion and thereby the sort of solidarity necessary to uphold the welfare state. Therefore, immigration must be (severely) restricted. I argue that this argument in fact encompasses a variety of different arguments that have importantly different implications for immigration policy, and relies on empirical and normative premises that are insufficiently motivated.

AB - According to the social cohesion argument for restrictive immigration policies, immigration causes ethnic diversity and ethnic diversity undermines social cohesion and thereby the sort of solidarity necessary to uphold the welfare state. Therefore, immigration must be (severely) restricted. I argue that this argument in fact encompasses a variety of different arguments that have importantly different implications for immigration policy, and relies on empirical and normative premises that are insufficiently motivated.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1468-7968

VL - 10

SP - 435

EP - 451

JO - Ethnicities

JF - Ethnicities

IS - 4

ER -