WIAS Visiting Reasercher Seminar: “The Comparative Politics of Immigration.”（10/16）
Details
Why do states that confront comparable immigration challenges oftentimes adopt remarkably different policy solutions? Why does immigration policy change radically at certain points in time, whilst showing striking resilience at others?
This seminar presents a theoretical framework for the comparative study of immigration policy making. I argue the capacity of policy makers to turn their immigration preferences into policy is contingent on the availability of three types of political insulation. Whereas popular insulation will shield policy makers from public pressure for policy restrictionism, interest group insulation and diplomatic insulation are necessary if policy makers are to enjoy reprieve from demands by domestic lobbies and foreign governments for policy liberalization. Because each type of insulation differs across institutional arenas, immigration policy choices will vary not only across countries but, in contexts where actors can manipulate the institutional locus of policy making, also over time.
Speaker
Professor of Political Science and Co-Director, Centre for Migration Studies, University of British Columbia
Date & Time
October 16, 2025 (Thu) 6:30-8:00 pm
Venue
Room #711 , Building #19, Waseda Campus, Waseda University
Language
English
Prospected Audience
Undergraduate, Graduate, Researchers, Faculty members, General audience
Organizer
LIU-FARRER, Gracia （Professor, Faculty of International Research and Education）
Co-Organizer
Waseda Institute for Advanced Studies (WIAS)
