Welfare Nationalism in Europe and Russia
The Politics of 21st Century Exclusionary and Inclusionary Migrations

A unique study of migration politics across Europe and Russia, showing exclusionary and inclusionary migration cycles in both regions.

Linda J. Cook (Author)

9781108835664, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 November 2024

346 pages, 20 b/w illus. 5 maps 13 tables
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.5 cm, 0.65 kg

'Welfare Nationalism in Europe and Russia offers a detailed analysis of how welfare institutions have become the focus of political boundary-making, alongside more familiar forms of border control. By showing that immigration control increasingly operates through the governance of welfare access in both democratic London and authoritarian Moscow, Cook situates contemporary migration politics within the broader transformation of welfare governance under conditions of austerity. The book will be of particular interest to scholars of comparative welfare states, migration politics, and nationalism, and will serve as a good reference for those researching the intersection of welfare governance and migration across regime types.' Steven Denney, Perspectives on Politics

What is the relationship between the expansion of international labour migration, informal and precarious employment, and growing nationalism? Welfare Nationalism compares 21st century MENA migrations to Europe and Russia, the Ukrainian refugee migration to Europe in 2022, and labor migrations from Central Asia to Russia and from Central and Eastern Europe to Britain. Linda Cook contends that exclusionary and inclusionary migration cycles exist in both regions, driven by the 'deservingness' of migrants and mobilized by anti-immigrant politicians. Arguing that the long-term deterioration of labor markets and welfare provision for nationals in Europe and Russia drives welfare nationalism, she shows how populist parties in Europe and sub-national elites in Russia thrive on scapegoating migrants. Featuring a unique comparative analysis, this book examines the increasing harshness of contemporary migration policies and explores how we have arrived at the daily stand-offs of desperate international migrants against Europe's powers of surveillance and enforcement.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Exclusionary and inclusionary migrations: concepts, cases, overview of the book's argument
Part II. Economic Drivers and Political Mobilizers of Welfare Nationalism and Exclusion in Russia and Europe: 2. Economic drivers of welfare nationalism: 'the toxic mix of immigration and austerity'
3. Political mobilizers of welfare nationalism: the rise of populist and anti-immigrant politics in Europe and Russia
Part III. Exclusionary Migrations: 4. Central Asian labor migrants in Russia: authoritarian politics of exclusion
5. Central and Eastern European labor migrants in the EU15: the broken promise of full inclusion
6. Asylum seekers and labor migrants from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe: failed solidarity, successful securitization
Part IV. Inclusionary Migrations: 7. The inclusive face of welfare nationalism: Russia's compatriot resettlement program and Poland's Karta Polaka
8. Ukrainian refugees to Europe in 2022: multiple sources of deservingness
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP]