Assimilation in Historical Political Economy

Abstract

This chapter summarizes insights from work on assimilation in historical political economy. To organize the findings, the chapter provides a theoretical framework in which assimilation is the result of interdependent decisions made by members of a minority group and by members of a majority group or the state that represents it. Material and psychological considerations both may affect these decisions. The framework can help explain when assimilation is more likely, when assimilation policies may succeed, and when minority backlash may ensue. Empirical evidence from various historical contexts confirms these predictions and provides additional support for the assumptions underlying the theoretical framework.

Political Backlash to Refugee Settlement: Cultural and Economic Drivers

“…This spatial variation, though, is not sufficient to understand the underlying mechanisms through which receiving refugees alleviates or amplifies natives' concerns. As a consequence, we know little about how to design inclusive resettlement policies since the receiving areas may significantly affect subsequent refugee integration through the supply or denial of opportunities (Bisin and Tura, 2019;Fouka, 2022). Indeed, from a policy perspective, matching refugees with host communities is crucial in fostering social cohesion.…”

“…Our contribution focuses on the supply side of integration, as public hostility toward minorities in receiving areas may contribute to sub-optimal integration outcomes (Damm and Rosholm, 2010;Arendt et al, 2022;Fasani et al, 2022). By interpreting the integration process as an equilibrium outcome (Bisin and Tura, 2019;Fouka, 2022), our counterfactual evaluation aims to study, for the first time, the implications of refugee dispersal policies on natives' welcoming of ethnic minorities. 5…”