ABSTRACT
The recent increase in migration to European countries, including Norway, is a result of neoliberal globalisation, increasing global inequalities, climate change, war and conflicts. This chapter explores the neoliberal reforms that through three critical events have influenced and changed Norwegian immigration and integration policy. These three critical events are: the terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utoya Island in 2011; the electoral success of the xenophobic Progressive Party and its entry into government in 2013; and the 'refugee crisis' of 2015. Neoliberalism and xenophobic neoliberal political parties, strengthened by the refugee crisis and a right-wing neoliberal government, have paved the way for welfare nationalism. The chapter discusses the influence of neoliberal reforms on immigration and integration policies, laws and regulations over the last three decades. The dominant political and public discourse was concerned with society's ability to accept and integrate such large numbers of displaced persons and the costs imposed on the welfare state by immigrants.
