REGULATING MIGRATION IN EUROPE: THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE, 1960-1992

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 534, S. 133-146

Abstract

LIKE OTHER WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THE NETHERLANDS HAS BECOME AN IMMIGRATION DESTINATION AGAINST ITS WILL. SINCE 1960, THREE MAJOR MIGRATION FLOWS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ITS MIGRATION SURPLUS: LABOR MIGRATION FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA, MIGRATION FROM FORMER DUTCH COLONIES, AND MIGRATION OF INTERNATIONAL REFUGEES. IN EACH CASE, THE POLICY ADOPTED BY THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE THE MIGRATION HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THIS PAPER ANALYZES WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT MIGRATION REGULATIONS. A VERY IMPORTANT REASON SEEMS TO BE THE CONTRADICTORY AIMS OF THE WELFARE STATE THAT, ON THE ONE HAND, TRIES TO KEEP IMMIGRANTS OUT BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, SEEKS TO ENSURE FULL CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION.