ABSTRACT
Economic and political globalization has encouraged waves of immigration that have changed the social composition of countries, leaving once homogenous cultures to deal with their newfound diversity. Unfortunately, Western countries have not handled this ongoing transition with much success. As Western Europe has seen immigration rise, it has seen support for liberal policies decline, and civil unrest increase. Liberal attitudes in Amsterdam have already given way to more restrictive policies. Paris has seen large-scale riots, first in the ethnic-minority banlieue, then among the more privileged students who resisted policies aimed at resolving the original tensions. Belgium has seen segregation and disaffection turn into a breeding ground for extremism. The United States is steadily moving toward becoming a majority-minority country, thanks in part to differential fertility rates. Even with the United States’ longer history of ethnic diversity, immigration and affirmative action polarize political discourse. Around the world, right-wing, anti-immigration, anti-minority parties and political candidates have seen robust political support.
