Immigration Policy in Times of Autocratization

• In Event: Political Crises and International Migration

Abstract

In 2023, a record number of states home to more than a third of the world population were autocratizing. Autocratization – a process of regime change towards autocracy that makes politics increasingly exclusive and monopolistic, and political power increasingly repressive and arbitrary – is thus transforming politics worldwide. Autocratizing regimes thrive on nationalist sentiments, anti-globalization and territorial sovereignty claims, which are by definition challenged by immigration. Immigration policies are therefore essential tools for autocratizing leaders to affirm their control over people, borders and identity. However, in comparative politics, immigration is surprisingly absent from the otherwise lively conceptual debate around autocratization. Similarly, the migration policy literature has not yet embraced the concept of autocratization, having so far focused on exploring the role of static political regime types (democracy/autocracy), which cannot explain immigration policymaking that is by definition dynamic. This conceptual paper connects these two major hitherto largely compartmentalized academic debates on autocratization and immigration policy to innovate theory-building in both fields. First, as immigration policies are particularly affected in moments of regime transformation – when regimes (re)define their national identity, social contract and sovereignty – the paper introduces a dynamic approach to political regimes into the burgeoning migration literature. Second, as immigration policies are essential state-making tools, this paper mobilizes the analytical potential of immigration policy to unpack autocratizing regimes’ survival strategies at the intersection of domestic and international policy spheres.

Author

• K Natter