Immigration as a source of political discontent and frustration in Western democracies

It appears evident that immigration has been a source of political discontent and frustration in Western democracies, but how much and why? This article describes the migration context of three sets of Western democracies and then explores plausible linkages between the scale, timing, and characteristics of migration, and the substance and process of migration policies, on the one hand, and support for government, on the other. Trying to move beyond plausibility, I discuss indirect indicators of the impact of immigration on Western publics: attitudes toward immigration policy and immigrants, support for extremist parties, and acts of violence and disorder linked to anti-immigrant or racist motives. Conclusions are qualified because political malaise is overdetermined. Immigration is undeniably a contributing factor, but it is tied up with more general developments so that its independent effect remains unspecified.