Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book deals with political, historical and international issues. It describes the contemporary issues in immigration and welfare and goes from theory to resistance. The book says Ed Mynott uses a Marxist framework to look at how a racialised nationalism has a constant driving force in the construction of immigration controls under capitalism. It examines Debra Hayes history of the relationship between immigration controls and access to welfare in a British context. The book focuses on Shirley Joshi tackles the class nature of British immigration controls from the Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1962 to the present day. The book describes Wendy Zimmermann and Michael Fix look at immigration and welfare reforms in the United States through the lens of mixed-status families. It traces Beth Humphries slide from welfare to authoritarianism.