Immigration and Social Solidarity in a Time of Crisis: The Welfare State and Integration

David Abraham — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:02:22 PDT

Very suddenly a cloud has settled over the immigration regimes of the European welfare states as well as the United States. Confidence in the ability to integrate and the value of integrating newcomers into a system of legal and social solidarity has waned. The weakening of both liberal civic nationalism and secular constitutional patriotism has unsettled national identities and undermined legal reforms intended to facilitate the inclusion of immigrants, especially Muslims. The road ahead will be very difficult for both the welfare state and immigrants. More forceful integration policies might be better for sustaining the welfare state, but individual liberties and group recognition make this more difficult. Ironically perhaps, immigrants may now fare better in the more unjust neo-liberal societies such as the US than in the advanced welfare states. This essay looks at Germany and the US in particular to assess recent developments and the current situation. I call into question the adequacy of current legal arrangements, but wonder, in fact, if law can ease this crisis of integration and solidarity.