Go Back to Where You Came From: The Backlash Against Immigration and the Fate of Western Democracy

by Sasha Polakow-Suransky

What if politicians pose a graver threat to liberal democracy than mass migration?

Brexit and Donald Trump's victory were just the beginning -- and Marine Le Pen's defeat does not signal a turning of the tide. From the Introduction

From Europe to the United States, opportunistic politicians have exploited the economic crisis, terrorist attacks, and an unprecedented influx of refugees to bring hateful and reactionary views from the margins of political discourse into the mainstream. They have won the votes of workers, women, gays, and Jews; turned openly xenophobic ideas into state policy; and pulled besieged centrist parties to the right. How did we get here?

In this deeply reported account, Sasha Polakow-Suransky provides a front-row seat to the anger, desperation, and dissent that are driving some voters into the arms of the far right and stirring others to resist. He introduces readers to refugees in the Calais "Jungle" and the angry working-class neighbors who want them out; a World War II refugee-turned-rabbi who became a leading defender of Muslim immigrants; the children of Holocaust survivors who have become apologists for the new right; and alt-right activists and the intellectuals who enable them.

Polakow-Suransky chronicles how the backlash against refugees and immigrants has reshaped our political landscape. Ultimately, he argues that the greatest threat comes not from outside, but from within -- even established democracies are at risk of betraying their core values and falling apart.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Immigration, Race, History, Social Justice, Journalism

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2017

Reviews

[Murtaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a very sobering look at the trajectory of contemporary politics in the Western world. The author gets remarkable access to some of the top figures of the resurgent far-right in Europe, while drawing the outlines of the migration crisis that is putting already shaky Western democracies on the brink of returning to their disastrous recent pasts. This book is very refreshing in that it doesn't cater to anyones pieties. The far-right is predictably critiqued for both its moral and political failings, but those who completely ignore the complaints of the existing populations about immigration, economics and identity have also clearly set the stage for a revival of nostalgic nationalism. Polakow-Suransky talks to pretty much everyone: from Marine Le-Pen to Muslim civil society activists, to refugees in limbo in camps and far-right militants. He even reports on the parallels between anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and that in his native South Africa, helping illustrate how a battle for scarce resources can turn tensions around migration violent even without a "Clash of Civilizations" backdrop.

The issues this book charts will only become more salient if climate change pushes millions more to seek safety in Europe and the United States. There are no easy answers and those who want to put migrants in brutal internment camps as Australia has done, or even machine gun them as some German politicians have argued, are just as myopic as those who are not interested in managing migration flows at all or planning the basis for a sustainable future society. A sobering must-read for those wanting to get a look at our possible futures.

[Kathrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was provided to me by NetGalley and Nation Books. All opinions are my own. Pub Date 17 Oct 2017.

The author has put forward a well researched book about the populist trend in Western Democracies especially in the light of the refugee crises in Europe in 2015/16 and has analyzed how this impacted the national elections up to the French presidential election earlier this year. It would have been easy for the author to just pick sides and tell the left/right what they are doing wrong, but he has chosen to look behind the political rhetoric and figure out what motivates the electorate and how populists take advantage of these existential fears.

It's a dense read, but very much worth your time in order to understand this current trend. Polakow-Suransky focuses mostly on Europe in his investigation, but also touches on Australia and South Africa and draws some parallels to the 2016 election in the USA.

This book is in my top 2 non-fiction reads of 2017 right next to Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right and I will recommend it to anybody that is interested in current events and political science.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty amazing. If you're super liberal and refuse to see or recognize the opinions of others, it might not always tickle your fancy. Same goes for those who are super right wing and won't see any sense in left wing arguments. I loved that the author, while clearly against populism, brought attention to sides of xenophobia that are usually overlooked or denied in America (for instance, there is a chapter on how native black residents of South Africa are also often violently xenophobic against immigrants/refugees from Zimbabwe and Somalia, showing that it's not just white europeans who are afraid of "the other"). He also did a good job at showing people from both sides as people with legitimate worries and reasons for thinking the way they do. Very engrossing for a non-fiction book on a touchy subject.

[Anna Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

That time when you want to thank the author for his work. I really loved this book, the language and the stories. The main thing for me is that the author managed to stay refreshingly unbiased and non-judgemental dealing with the sensitive topic of migration and refugeedom.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books of social analysis I have read in a long time, and also one of the most disturbing. The author focuses on how the refugee crisis in Europe has given support to the rise of far right and nationalistic political movements, pulling the left and center rightward and in the process endangered liberal democracy. He also deals with the rise of Trumpism in America which he sees springing from the same anxiety that a white Christian culture is threatened. His research is deep and his analysis broad as he tries to recognize the angst of those who feel left behind and left out and also notes that neither open immigration nor anti-immigrant prejudice are the solution. He also points out that the anti-immigrant forces and Muslim terrorism are both based on nostalgia for the past and feed off of each other., and that liberal scorn for the working class and its concerns is a big part of the problem. Finally, his writing is excellent: Anybody who can describe someone as a "slick-haired sophist" (p.195) is worth reading. If democracy as we have known it survies 9and the fact that he points out that only 30% of Milenials say democracy is essentially the best for m of government and many lean toward military rule brings that into question) it will be works like this that helped to save it.

[Joel W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for thoughtful people who want to understand the historical, social, and political dimensions of the rise of nativist ideologies and political coalitions in the West. Polakow-Suransky presents a well-researched and compellingly-argued account that captures the evolution of far-right, anti-immigrant ideas from mere sentiment to central issues of populist political platforms such as those of Donald Trump, Geert Wilders, and Marine Le Pen. Anyone seeking genuine understanding of the global politics of migration and what's at stake for the future of liberal democracy should read this book.

[Siyu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a bit hard to follow as it goes from the Netherlands to France to Australia to South Africa, but really great on the ground descriptions. The South Africa section was interesting - race was not a factor there. Us and them is not an irrational thought, the left needs to recognize that and provide real solutions for the working class: a multilingual office worker in London with families and friends overseas can conceivably find a job in Brussels and therefore be for the EU, but a person with only high school education in a small town has reasonable fears about open borders.

Also interesting that, no one mentions why Syria is exporting so many refugees in the first place and what European countries should do going forward, learning from that experience

[Hugo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just fantastic! A book with such analysis has been needed for a while. If you ever wondered why so many liberal democracies are swaying towards a so-called "new far right", this is a book for you. As a professional working in the field of refugee protection, this book has been very useful as it helps one understand the reasons behind why refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants have recently become scapegoats in recent political landscapes of France, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and in the US. Although a bit lengthy with similar information being repeated in different chapters, this book attempts to honestly and frankly tell the story of how the "fear of foreigners"emerged and has been recently fueled by politics.
He ends the book with an interesting epilogue, which include a number of suggestions on how to move forward. One of them that I reproduce here includes: "The first step in any coherent political project to counter right-wing populists is to reject the fear that fuels their popularity and resist the temptation to adopt their policies. Very few leaders have done this."

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant to pick this book up. As a Muslim and a daughter of immigrants, I do not want another white male to explain the issues of immigration and xenophobia to me. However, the author exceeded my expectations. He does an excellent job at portraying contemporary issues concerning immigration in Europe. This book is well researched and I really enjoyed reading both sides to this argument. It is politically heavy but a very important read.

Post 9/11, the idea of Islam conquering the West became a concern for many politicians. An increase in immigration has led to xenophobia, violence, and competition. Politicians want nothing to do with Muslims and will literally spend billions of dollars to keep them out (i.e. Australia). They will even try to convince refugees to go back to their war torn countries.

In the first section, we learn the history of immigration to various European countries which began in the 1960s due to work shortages and post colonialism. We are introduced to various politicians and their beliefs. I came to the conclusion that politicians don’t seem to educate themselves about other cultures and religions. They know little to nothing about Islam and non-white cultures as they suggest. Integration has become a very popular discussion among politicians however not many seem to have a welcoming approach. The author argues that presently immigration has determined whether one is right or left wing which I fully agree with.

An issue that I resonated with is how foreign looking citizens are never identified as local. Due to the way I look and dress, white Canadians always have the tendency to ask me, “Where are you really from?”. This kind of exchange is presented in the book concerning all non-white locals. It seems that you are not a real local unless you “look” like one; whatever that means.

The media is very powerful and in recent years, you’ve probably learned not to believe everything you hear. The portrayal of Muslims and refugees hasn’t been positive in recent years. All Muslims are terrorists and dangerous. The beautiful saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ became a terrorist slogan. Where non-White criminals are described as “of foreign background” and White criminals as “not the typical image of a killer” who “came from good circumstances and went to a top private school”. Middle Eastern ethnicity and violent crimes have become linked which has made it difficult to be a Muslim in the West.

The hijab has become a political topic. Right-wing leaders believe they are “freeing” women by making it illegal to wear a hijab. Suddenly they stand for feminism and women’s rights. White politicians have become experts on Muslim women without even acknowledging one. Most white individuals can’t even decipher between cultural and religious beliefs. Right-wing leaders have not educated themselves on the differences and it shows.

One of the latest campaigns in Denmark is of serving pork to kindergarten classes. Halal meat is apparently so “frightening”. But remember, Muslims are the criminals and Europe needs to be protected in case Shariah Law takes over.

For the "Muslim problem" in Europe, right-wing politicians have come up with two solutions: send them back or deny them their human rights. Unfortunately, there is a high number of refugees who were convinced to return to their homelands only to end up murdered or missing. This humiliation has not stopped the West from continuing this practice.

The third section was probably the most intense. The author raised some of the most important points and we were introduced to some frightening views. ‘Hate’ is probably a kind word to describe Islamophobia. When examining ISIS and terrorism I can understand these views. However when one does not educate themselves on the differences of ISIS and legitimate Muslims, this is when issues arise.

France is one of the least welcoming countries for Muslims. At French beaches Muslim women are denied the freedom of modesty. However, a nun will not be discriminated upon. Right-wing politicians don’t seem to care about women’s rights but rather how they can erase Muslim women’s rights.

Women who are asked to not wear modest swimwear are excluded from societal activities. Women who are asked to not wear the hijab, are excluded of an education and employment. The west argues that women are oppressed and denied of their rights in the Middle East yet West politicians don’t seem to be protecting those rights either.

Right-wing politicians argue that mosques need to be closed because they promote extremism, homophobia, and terrorism. As a Muslim I can attest that Islam is the most peaceful religion. If Mosques need to be closed for these reasons, then I advocate for Churches to be closed whenever a child is molested by a Priest. But that’s not the same right, because not all Priests are like that but all Imams are extremists?

Islamophobics are so uneducated that they even violently attack Sikhs wearing a turban mistaking them for Muslims. France is so afraid of Muslims that they seek to de-Islamize immigration. Muslim Danes are only identified as “Muslims” even when they’re first or second generation.

The racism in Europe is not limited to Muslims. For decades, Holland celebrated pre-Christmas ritual of a character known as Black Pete who is Santa’s little helper. People would dress up in a blackface to play Black Pete. It wasn’t until recent years that Black Danes and activists called and end to this tradition.

To conclude, I learned a lot from this book. I do have an expanse of knowledge on immigration, refugees, and statelessness but this book provided me a new lens. I continue to recommend this book and even refer to it months after I finished it. This isn't an easy read but it is an important one.

[Allison Meakem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where was this when I was writing my thesis???? Sasha's book is a great overview of the backlash against immigration (mostly in the context of Muslims in post-9/11 Europe) - and I'm not just saying that because he's my workplace superior. "Go Back to Where You Came From" and its core argument also fit very nicely as a straight-talking follow-up to all of the Jonathan Coe I've been reading.

What differentiates this book from the excess of literature spawned by Brexit and Trump that seeks to explain the rise of "populism" and "xenophobia" is that it is less a narrative seeking to disentangle "why did they vote Leave/Trump?" and more an exploration of what the medium and long-term implications of the very real, undeniably palpable populist sentiment in *liberal democracies* are for these democracies' liberalism (though the book accomplishes the former objective, too). Among many key and well-substantiated predictions, Sasha generally posits that the inability of the "left" to grapple with and accept the Brexit/Trump/FN/etc supporters' (usually fundamentally working-class) anxieties in favor of unwavering, uncritical support for immigrant groups will allow the new right to capitalize on a purported defense of nativist "liberal values" (e.g. laïcité) that ultimately drive the *real* cross-cutting liberalism of liberal democracy into the ground. As he makes clear, it is constitutionalism and checks - NOT elections - that protect the individual and group rights that ultimately render democracy liberal (or not). Like Jonathan Coe, Sasha makes a very clear point that many traditionally center-left, working-class parties (pre-Reagan/Thatcher) have abandoned class issues in favor of identity politics. As a salve, he looks to politicians like Bernie Sanders, who demonstrate that the two are not irreconcilable with one another (the reason Bernie would have beaten Trump!!).

This book had an ambitious mandate: xenophobia in "liberal democracies" writ large. That's a lot of countries to tackle, and Sasha did well in providing specific examples that have proven generalizability. Yet, "Go Back to Where You Came From" did seem to focus disproportionally on Denmark, France, and the Netherlands. While it was fascinating, I did find the chapter on South Africa to be somewhat out of place in a book that had theretofore focused solely on EU member states. I'm glad it steered mostly clear of explaining Trump. Through my thesis writing and summer reading, one recurring thought I've had is that the histories of immigration in the US and Western Europe are more different than they are similar. In Europe, immigrants came *after* the establishment of a robust and indiscriminate welfare state. In the US, this welfare state has yet to appear (and probably won't, because immigrants/non-white people predated it). This is a critical divergence.

Overall, this is a work of balance, which is hard to come by these days. It was a sobering read for a young, global idealist like myself, who can be quick to dismiss Trump supporters as racist idiots who should be ignored or silenced rather than listened to or taken seriously. But "Go Back to Where You Came From" reminded me that, no matter how much educated, nationally-philanderous individuals try to wish away nationalism and populism, that won't make them disappear. In fact, it may only make these troublesome phenomena fester and grow. As Sasha says in his conclusion, "pretending nationalism is passé may be popular among globe-trotting university students and tech entrepreneurs but it is not a political proposition likely to win national elections...to dismiss the populist impulse as something completely alien is to miss the point and to preemptively lose the political debate." It's uncomfortable, but it's true. Highly recommended read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful discussion on the anti-immigration movements of Europe and elsewhere in the western world, focusing largely but not exclusively on Western Europe but also touching on Australia and South Africa, and only tangentially on the United States. Regrettably the author doesn’t discuss Poland or Hungary, where the anti-immigrant movement is wrapped up in a homegrown authoritarian politics, but this does an impressive job outlining the economic and moreso the cultural basis of the fervor directed against immigrants from the Muslim world, including Syrian and Afghan refugees.

As the author describes it, political entrepreneurs like Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen and others have found new ways to unify the traditional European right wingers, who always hated immigrants and minorities, with social democratic voters who want to preserve the social safety nets for native-born Dutch and French citizens. So gays and lesbians and Jews and feminist voters are being drawn into the anti-immigrant parties, alongside the religious and far-right constituencies that traditionally voted for the Front National or the various other right-wing parties. In Germany and France, where centrists and mainstream conservatives erected a political wall to seal off the fascists, new groups like the Alternative für Deutschland are chipping away at the boundaries between respectable and dangerous political movements.

The rationales for anti-immigrant movements differ, and unsurprisingly, so do the responses. One of the most surprising sections of the book deals with the unfathomably harsh approach by the government of Australia, which has kept refugees and would-be migrants out of sight and out of mind through internment in Nauru or other isolated islands. Shielded from media or public scrutiny, the seemingly-tolerant and -welcoming people of Australia have embarked on a dangerous and potentially horrific experiment in offshoring their refugee crisis. It’s quite different, although perhaps not as cruel, as the South African case, where migrants are routinely assaulted or have their shops burned down — a case of one African nation resenting an influx of jobseekers from other poorer African countries.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Cold War came to and end, the future seemed to be rosy for Western Democracy, as economy became more liberalized, globalization picked up pace, while movement of people between countries became more frequent. It was The End of History, as Francis Fukuyama called it. however, behind the beautiful pictures, there lies more pressing problem, which may wobble the whole structure of Western Democracy.

Either fueled by the need to seek better life, and or escaping war and persecution back home, people from less developed countries migrated to Western European countries. This influx of migrants both legal and mostly illegal migrants or refugees it was called, put a burden to the much famed welfare system that caters to citizens from cradle to the grave. As the slice of cake became smaller and smaller, it fueled Anti-migrant movements around Europe, mostly on right-wing but interestingly with some from left-wing.

The establishments, mostly politically center in their orientations, was proven unable to solve this problem, while the radicals seemed to be content shouting from the peripheral, continuously driving this issue relevant. We are given cases in countries such as Netherlands, France, and Denmark, where the anti-migrant deployed various tactics, both to highlight their anti-migration credo while making it more palatable to general populace, such as employing the narratives that they are pro-gay and welfare, while the mostly (muslim) migrants have values that incompatible with LGBT and other western values, and the migrants are eating up the welfare while the native Europeans were left to pick up the bills.

The author also highlight the Australian Solution, that is, transferring migrants to detention camp in decrepit places such as Manus Island or Nauru. The other trouble that, in desperate attempt to woo voters, The Centres employed the radicals' anti=migrant voters, making it harder for the refugees, while at the same time lambasting the radicals for being racist, xenophobic and so on, and so on, without a single moment acknowledging that some of the complaints were valid.

[Lokesh Joshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

/As a student for studying political thinking and how events take place on point of immigration and integration, the author provides us with a wide-open window to look and understand how it works and in past had worked.
The author starts with why the world is having Islamophobia, and how all this started only after 9/11, how different right-wing parties of western Europe is changing their thinking to avoid any of Muslim immigrants, and not only right-wing but lefties also turned their understanding to fear after attack on Charlie hebdo in Paris office, so those who felt bad about cartoon were bad muslims for society and those who felt nothing about cartoon and were muslim, were potrayed and not proper muslim by both side media, hence deepening fear of islam in people's mind.
The author also compares this phobia to anti-Semitism during Nazi era and how nowadays political parties and right-wing media puts innocent people at risk for their political motives.
This kind of activity might lead those who feel marginalised to open towards fundamentalist groups and might indulge in terrorist activities.
Also, the author helps us to understand why left had left Europe after its ignorance of middle-class people and not able to provide them secure feeling about their jobs, the author explains it best in the book.
The author explains this with good examples of American White Christians' mentality and how some parties are using this to please them with promising hard-line laws to avoid newcomers based on ethnicity.
In the last author tries to picturise that what could happen that if only we think about parties who divide voters and lure them on the name of religion and ethnicity.
overall book is more talk on the current context of political scenario of the world.

[Omar Delawar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book in one sentence:
Why there is a backlash against immigration in the West.

Impressions?
Sasha Polakow-Suransky provides a powerful narrative history of public and political backlash against immigration. ‘Many of the world’s most advanced democracies,’ writes Polakow-Suransky, ‘are effectively hitting the self-destruct button rather than take on new passengers.’ Over the span of two years, Polakow-Suransky travels across eight different countries to conduct over 120 interviews with individuals ranging from politicians and activists on the far right to refugees held in immigration detention centers. While the book provides insight into the politics and policies surrounding issues of immigration, Polakow-Suransky’s primary focus is on how the backlash against immigrants and refugees can erode political systems within long-standing, advanced democracies. An absolute must-read for students interested in migration and border studies.

Who should read it?
Anyone who is interested in the topic.

Favorite quote(s)?

"When a political party points to an entire ethnic group as being responsible for the actions of a few within it, they are putting huge numbers of innocent people at risk."

"When Muslim women along the beaches of France began to wear burkinis, full-body swimsuits that also cover the neck and hair, they were fined, made to change their clothes or leave the beach. Conversely, French nuns, who were just as covered up as the Muslim women, were free to sit on the beaches undisturbed."

Readability: Hard ---o- Easy
Practicality: Low --o-- High
Insights: Few ---o- Many
Length: Long ---o- Short
Overall: Bad ---o- Amazing

[Peter Rooijmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched book about the rise of populism and its relation with immigration. Mainly in Europe, but a chapter is also devoted to South Africa, where strikingly a very comparable situation exists due to immigration from other African countries.
The populists have been able to strike a chord with a wide swath of voters, because the absence of a political debate about main concerns of the working population by the major parties, which have been focusing on a neo-liberalist worldview. Nevertheless, the populists offer no constructive solutions, but seem to focus on an idealized past. One of the reasons for the success of the populists is that they have never had any responsibility in Government and therefore can gratuitously claim that all ills of society are due to immigrants without offering any practical solutions. It is just the mongering of fear and hate.
In order to withstand and neutralize the populists, the major parties need to define a positive vision on the areas of concern such as globalization, the distribution of wealth, and the future of the welfare state. This will also assist in reducing the feelings of frustration, helplessness and alienation, which are so favorable to attract people to populist rhetoric.

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The waves of immigration and refugee claimants have shaken Western European democracies and have altered many of the Left vs Right political alliances. In this book, Sasha Polakow-Suransky focuses on Denmark, the Netherlands, France and Germany, where he conducted many interviews with politicians and polemicists on the issues of immigration, integration, tolerance, and (always lurking in shadows) Islamaphobia. There are references to the UK and Brexit, as well as the USA and the Trump victory, as well as interesting parallels to Australia and the use of Nauru as a holding pen for refugee claimants , and to South Africa and the presence of immigrants from neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic a Republic of the Congo. Rich in details, the book provides lots of food for thought about immigration and the impact on the " left-behinds", those who gave not benefited from globalization, the EU, the Euro, free trade, and other modern economic trends in our world.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times self-contradictory, at others just plain ignores inconvenient facts on the ground.
The part about the white working class was decent, and made a lot of sense.
The section on islamophobia relies on well-worn tropes about right wing parties while completely ignoring cultural/traditional differences as one potential source of the problems. The onus is on the host country to adapt to the immigrant? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? As an immigrant myself I feel very strongly that my success in depends on me adapting to my adopted surroundings.
Anyway, lots of stuff like this appeals to the self-flagellating tendencies of left-leaning folks, which is probably why it gets decent reviews. They’re the kind of people who would read a book with this particular kind of “ironic” title. I like to consider myself center-left, but find that the left is shifting more and more left. Oh well, I’m sure they’ll consider me a right winger now. So be it.

[Andre Masnari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea that Europe is committing suicide because of the influx of migrants has gained traction of late, especially on the right but increasingly on the left too. Suransky's argument that Europe may indeed be doing so, but doing so because the failure to develop a comprehensive plan for how to address the migrant crisis is leading to the rise of illiberal far right parties (AFD, Front Nacional, etc.) is compelling. Unfortunately the book is fantastic at diagnosing the problem but less so in offering solutions.
Ironically, the United States escapes much mention of any role it could play. Given it played an outsize role in causing this crisis in the first place due to the invasion of Iraq, the ouster of Gadaffi, and the aftershocks that followed these two events, by right it should bear some responsibility. Instead it is Europe that must confront this problem, seemingly alone

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I wish that this book was just hyperbole and extremism at its worst, but it is not. This is an excellent, and thorough examination of how our current political climate has came to be. Issues we are facing her in the United States are also prevalent across the globe. The process from which this current political climate was created has been brewing for some time, and at this present trajectory, this ascension will not subside anytime soon. If you only read a few pages of this book, make them the first few pages of the epilogue, which creates the simplest explanation of how Donald Trump gained so much popularity, and was able to win the 2016 presidential election.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this from Netgalley for the purpose of my honest and unbiased opinion.

I had high hopes for this book, but whether it was my expectations differing from the actual content of the book, or something else, we just didn't gel. I was hoping there'd be more proper interviews, oral history type reporting, but a lot of it was more dry analysis and academic history. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this, it wasn't that accessible for me, coming from a non academic background in terms of history and sociology. The other thing I will say is that this book is extremely thorough, touching on Trump, Le Pen, and many different countries including Europe and America.

[Sonja P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so dense because it is so well-researched and also a wider view of immigration views in Western culture, aka not just in the good ole USA. In fact, the us gets mention briefly as a reference, but this is not as concerned with that. Instead, it delves more into how these ideologies slowly developed, where these thoughts came from, and what is really behind them. It can be scary and frustrating, but this knowledge is so so necessary, and he talks to so many people so he can get their own words on their ideas. Really, really fascinating and an important read that I’ll be thinking about for a WHILE.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sobering read. If you want to try and grapple with the question of why people like Trump, Le Pen, and Geert Wilders have risen in power, read this book. It outlines the reasons for the rise of right-wing populism in Europe, and elsewhere in the world. If we hope to make things better in the near future we need to better understand these forces and how to confront them. Ignoring them, or just casting aspersion on them, is not a viable option.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

A desperately needed corrective and warning about how anti-immigrant organizing is changing the face of Europe more than the immigrants the new right fears. This is diligent, cogent research and analysis mainly concerned with the Netherlands, France, Denmark, and Germany, but also looking at Australia, South Africa, and the U. S.

Highly recommended.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and written. A thoughtful book on how the left wings of Western democracies are being twisted, in many cases, into unlikely stances due to the right's opportunistic adoption of working class issues that the left has, admittedly, neglected in recent years. A timely read that everyone who cares about healthy democracies should read.

[Moriah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creating the second class citizenship that makes up the immigrant population is the result of fear of dealing with one's own pain. Racism and bigotry are the results of a limitation on the mind, a manifestation of the worst of humanities traits. I highly recommend this book for its anecdotes especially.

[Polina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking read that describes in detail the development of modern xenophobia and how racists, white nationalists, and other like groups view the world. It is insightful and allows for a greater understanding of the issues that currently western, white majority countries face and what could be the impact of these isolationist policies

[Lauren Violette]

Thought provoking and simultaneously boring, this book drastically expanded my thoughts on immigration as an American learning about alternative viewpoints and approaches in the EU and beyond. I was left me with more questions than answers, but a renewed excitement to learn in person on my upcoming trip.

[B. Cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been thinking about what to say about this book for awhile, a really interesting read about the refugee crisis and how those who've flooded into Europe are being accepted (or not) and the whys to the European feelings.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Aloysius · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the migration crisis facing Western Europe (and a few other places) and the strain that the responses are having on democracy as we know and love it.