Schmidt Quoted in US News and World Report on Anti-Immigration Sentiment
On August 8, 2023, Vivien Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, was quoted in a US News and World Report article on rising anti-immigration sentiment and subsequent political gridlock.
The article discusses rising tensions in Europe amid debate over immigration laws, especially in regards to the substantial increase of migrants following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The article explains how the immigration issue is frequently weaponized by far-right parties to win elections and exercise more influence in policymaking, as conservatives bases tend to be galvanized by a potential influx of migrants.
Schmidt called immigration “a political force,” saying not only that “it’s been a hot-button issue for a very long time,” but also that “it’s been the major focus of extreme right parties that have used it to great success, really.”
Read the full article here.