Between the crises: Migration politics and the three periods of neoliberalism

Abstract

Between the two UK referendums on EC/EU membership, the issue of migration came to dominate the entire debate. The period between 1975 and 2016 corresponds almost exactly to the neoliberal era in capitalism, in its British manifestation, and this is not coincidental.This article traces the shifting periods of neoliberalism ('vanguard', 'social' and 'crisis') across these 40 years, focusing in each case on how the policies associated with them specifically impacted on migration into the UK. In particular, it will argue that the current migration crisis is at least partly an aspect of the wider crisis of neoliberalism as a form of capitalist organisation. It concludes that current levels of anti-migrant sentiment are a displaced expression of hostility to the social effects of neoliberalism, and which may nevertheless cause difficulties for British capital through the imposition of anti-free movement policies to which it is opposed.

European economic integration and migration in Romania

“…Cities across Europe could play an important role in ensuring national integration policies and funding plans (Hooper, Desiderio, & Salant, 2017). Mulvey and Davidson (2019) showed that the actual migration crisis is a part of neoliberalism crisis in the capitalist structure. The anti-migrant sentiment is associated to the disagreement with social consequences of neoliberalism.…”

Migration and the neoliberal state: accounting ethics in the Italian response to the refugee crisis

“…Drawing from Weber (Weber, 2009(Weber, /1919a, we argue that these ethical paradoxes are a facet rather than an unintended outcome of neoliberalism. In other words, the ethical tension between the nationalist discourse of exclusion (Mulvey & Davidson, 2019) and the normative human rights discourse originates from the core of economic neoliberalism.…”

Stories of courage in a group of asylum seekers for an inclusive and sustainable future

“…As reported by Düvell (2004), the process of citizenship hierarchization stresses the differences among different individuals, not to underline their value in a perspective of social progress, but because of ideological derivations. The distinction between genders, races, and nations reflects the division of work, the fragmentation of job markets, and the life conditions people experience (Mulvey & Davidson, 2019). Migration policies are oriented towards maintaining, controlling, and managing borders, introducing different schemes to control people's movements.…”

“…Prejudices and negative attitudes further undermine skills and self-efficacy resulting in hidden and unrecognized talents and disruptions in identity. As a result, asylum seekers' position becomes the defining feature for many individuals (Mulvey & Davidson, 2019). Press's study (2017) provides additional insight into the personality of migrants that decide to live in the host country and request asylum.…”