16/02/2016: Migration Seminar “Government of the People?: Right-wing Populism and Immigration Policy” by Adrian Shin

Government of the People?: Right-wing Populism and Immigration Policy

Adrian J. Shin (University of Michigan/ MACIMIDE Junior Fellow)

MGSoG/UNU-MERIT Migration Seminar in collaboration with Maastricht Centre for Citizenship, Migration and Development (MACIMIDE)

Abstract This paper examines how right-wing populist parties influence immigration policy when they are excluded from coalition governments. I argue that right-wing parties have limited direct influence on immigration policy when they are excluded from coalition governments since they cannot influence government policy directly. Yet coalition governments shift their stance on immigration policy when a large number of voters support right-wing populist parties because governments seek to exclude right-wing populist parties from coalitions while making policy concessions to xenophobic voters. Since right-wing populist parties tend to disrupt the status quo by being hostile to political compromise and diversity, coalition governments do their best to exclude them from policy making… Go to event page.