World Immigration News

How selective immigration policies can curb populist backlash

Release Date: 2025-08-16
Media: caliber
Summary: The article examines how growing anti-immigration sentiment is reshaping politics worldwide, noting that it has fueled Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, strengthened far-right parties in Europe, and pushed even centre-left governments like the UK Labour Party to adopt tougher measures. It argues that public resistance is not driven solely by prejudice or political scapegoating but also by practical concerns over maintaining order, protecting jobs, and ensuring access to housing and public services. Public attitudes, the author finds, are shaped less by the scale of immigration than by perceptions of whether the system is well-managed and beneficial to society.

Support is stronger when immigration is seen as contributing to economic growth or filling labour shortages. Sweden and Canada illustrate contrasting approaches: Sweden has admitted large numbers of refugees regardless of skills or income, supported by generous welfare, but this has led to fiscal imbalances, social tensions, and the rise of the far-right Sweden Democrats. Canada, by contrast, uses a transparent points-based system to prioritise skilled, economically beneficial immigrants, and it responds quickly to emerging problems, maintaining both high immigration levels and public confidence.

The article concludes that purely humanitarian-based immigration policies struggle to retain durable public backing, whereas selective systems focused on economic contribution and labour needs are the most reliable way to sustain open immigration in democratic societies.
Tags: World Wide

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