The Politics of Immigration Beyond Liberal States

Examining whether autocracies make fundamentally different immigration policies than democracies, Katharina Natter systematically compares policymaking in authoritarian Morocco and democratizing Tunisia. In doing so, Natter uncovers the complex interplay between immigration, political regimes, and modern statehood worldwide.

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Immigration presents a fundamental challenge to the nation-state and is a key political priority for governments worldwide. However, knowledge of the politics of immigration remains largely limited to liberal states of the Global North. In this book, Katharina Natter draws on extensive fieldwork and archival research to compare immigration policymaking in authoritarian Morocco and democratizing Tunisia. Through this analysis, Natter advances theory-building on immigration beyond the liberal state and demonstrates how immigration politics – or how a state deals with 'the other' – can provide valuable insights into the inner workings of political regimes. Connecting scholarship from comparative politics, international relations and sociology across the Global North and Global South, Natter's highly original study challenges long-held assumptions and reveals the fascinating interplay between immigration, political regimes, and modern statehood around the world.