Migration, Populism and Democratic Politics in Europe

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

The stakes have never been higher in European politics. Elections across the region have resulted in populist leaders capturing substantial vote-shares in recent elections, success that appears to be fueled by fears among local populations of migrants bringing criminality and economic instability. Yet what are the effects of migration on the public policies and politics of European migrant-receiving states and vice-versa? Moreover, how is migration tied to the recent wave of populist electoral successes across Europe? The four papers in this panel address these questions, exploring the interactive effects between human mobility, public policies, and democratic politics. On the one hand, the papers by Sara Goodman as well as Paula Ganga, Abraham Newman, and Filip Savatic identify conditions which instigate greater public support for far-right, anti-immigrant populist political movements. On the other hand, the papers by Hannah Alarian as well as Floris Peters, Maarten Vink, and Anna Tegunimataka examine the impact of politics and policies on public attitudes towards migrants and migrant mobility between host and home states. Taken together they present a multifaceted approach to the study of migration and its impact on European societies. Using novel sources of data analyzed through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, and focusing on cases as varied as France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, the papers collectively speak to pressing contemporary issues of migration and extremism and reinforce each other by offering unique perspectives on common overarching phenomena. As the expansion of migration and populism continues to transform politics in Europe and beyond, understanding the interaction of these processes is essential to better addressing challenges to democratic governance.

Sub Unit

• DIVISION 15: European Politics and Society

Cosponsor

• DIVISION 52: Migration and Citizenship

Individual Presentations

• Cause or Effect? The AfD and Attitudes toward Immigration - Hannah Marie Alarian, Princeton University

• Left Behind: Emigration, Political Brain Drain, and Support for Radical Parties - Paula Daniela Ganga, Columbia University; Filip Savatic, Georgetown University; Abraham Newman, Georgetown University

• Naturalisation, Citizenship Policy and Mobility: A Longitudinal Analysis - Floris Peters, Maastricht University; Maarten P. Vink, Maastricht University

• Institutions of Identity in Times of Crisis - Sara Wallace Goodman, University of California, Irvine

Chair

• Matthias Matthijs Johns Hopkins University