Immigration and Society: Views From

Immigration and Society: Views from Michael Lind's the Next American Nation: The New Nationalism and the Fourth American Revolution and Peter Brimelow's Alien Nation: Common Sense about America's Immigration Disaster

Book Synopses

The Next American Nation

Michael Lind is an American writer, most of whose work has revolved around policy research, books and editorials. Throughout his life, Lind has occupied numerous positions which allowed him to both spread his view, as well as gain new insights. Some of the most important past positions include those of professor at the Harvard and Virginia Tech Universities, or editor and staff writer for the New Yorker. Today, Lind occupies the positions of editor at the New American Contract and Policy Director at the New America Foundation's Economic Growth Program. Michael Lind is the editor or co-editor of numerous books and articles, including works such as the Radical Center: The Future of American Politics (co-edited with Ted Halstead, 2001), Made in Texas: George W. Bush and the Southern Takeover of American Politics (2003), or What Lincoln Believed, 2005 (New America Foundation).

The Next American Nation: The New Nationalism and the Fourth American Revolution was published in 1995 under the aegis of the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group. The 448 pages book is centered on the idea that the current approach to immigration within the United States is an erroneous one and will reveal numerous side effects in the future. Lind's work is organized into nine chapters, excluding the acknowledgements, the introduction, the notes and the index, as follows:

(1) the First Republic: Are We a Nation?

(2) the Second Republic: Euro-America;

(3) the Third Republic: The Making of Multicultural America;

(4) the White Overclass and the Racial Spoils System;

(5) the Revolution of the Reich;

(6) Alternative Americas: Democratic Universalism, Cultural Pluralism, and the New Nativism;

(7) Liberal Nationalism: The Trans-American Melting Point;

(8) National Democracy and the Fourth Republic of the United States; and finally, the ninth chapter

(9) the National Story.

As it can be seen from the structure of the book chapters, the Next American Generation commences with an assessment of the historic past of the United States. "Picture North America in the year 2000 a.D., as Thomas Jefferson might have imagined it in 1800" (Lind, 1995). It then moves on to assessing the development of the country through time, from the beginnings of the United States as a British colony, to eventually analyze the contemporaneous elements, and come to an end suggesting that the future can be different, better different, if we learn how to better deal with immigrants. Lind recognizes the dissatisfactions of the working native born Americans, who argue that immigration causes them to lose their jobs or forces them to accept lower levels of remuneration. Despite these however, immigration is presented as a greater force, out of which the impact on certain classes of American workers is a mere component.

Reading the book, the individual will become aware that Lind is a great admirer of French history, with its gradual successions in power. Based on this model then, he constructs the image of a United States in four different republic forms, all centered on the elements of a democratic republic, and ruled by multi-party parliaments. Each of these moments in time is organized and assessed within a different chapter. The most important findings of the respective chapters dealing with the three republics are succinctly revealed below:

The First Republic was generally formed from British Protestants who came to the new continent with the stated desire of conquering it; these activities resulted in the formation of the Anglo-American First Republic, which existed from the Revolution through the Civil War

As the Civil War broke out and the Americans were able to declare their independence and grow as a nation, they attracted the attention of western Europe, from where people began to immigrate in hope of achieving the American dream; this second republic is called Euro-American and it lasted until the commencement of the Cold War

Lind states that the despite the pressures of the Cold War between the United States of America and the Soviet Union, the underlying reason for the formation of the Third Republic was the ongoing war in Vietnam; this new stage does not differ greatly in composition from the previous republic in the meaning that the levels of immigration remain high, with the specification however that the proportion of European and Asian immigrants shifted (less Europeans were drawn to the U.S. As more Asian and Latinos saw opportunities in the North American country). The major characteristic of this historic time however relies in the political approach to the matter of immigration in the meaning that the United States came to be presented and perceived as a multicultural formation, with the emphasis on nationalism suffering reductions.

Throughout the following chapter, the White Overclass and the Racial Spoils System, Lind argues that the third republic is nothing more than a political scam orchestrated by the white overclass, who are depicted as the real rulers of the North American state. The overclass includes high professionals, which often contribute to the campaigns of politicians. By having recognized and embraced the multiculturalism of the country, the politicians defined five distinct categories of Americans citizens -- whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Pacific Islanders and Native Americans. Lind's belief is however that the move was constructed so that these representatives of the white overclass would be able to gain a greater level of control over the country's population and resources. Otherwise put, the former Harvard professor believes that the politicians defined these five ethic classes with the intent of then turning them against each other, so that they lose focus of the real duties and obligations of the political and over classes.

Lind also blames the white overclass for a series of economic downturns. For instance, he points out the stagnation of the income per capita in the assessed period and argues that it was the high professionals who worked towards this desiderate in order to maintain their expenses at a minimal. Following the same agenda, they also imported merchandise and labor force, which came to negatively impact the native born employees. Additionally, the overclass promoted immigration despite its net disadvantages, for the simple reason that it found a way to ensure that they would not feel its negative impacts. "The white overclass can afford to be indifferent to the decline of the wages and quality of life of the average American because its members have devised ways to insulate themselves from rotting cities, poor jobs, crumbling urban public schools, wandering maniacs, crime" (Lind)

After an enumeration of the elements which make the American nationality worthy of protection, Lind moves on to proposing a series of modifications which should occur and give birth to the Fourth Republic. He does not state how the transition to the next stage in America's history would be achieved, but he leans towards the lack of armed conflict, but the basis on reforms. The most relevant of these reforms revolve around a reduction of immigration in the meaning that only immigrants seeking civil refuge should be allowed to enter the country. Then, he also points out to the necessity of terminating free trade and reducing imports to a minimum. He argues that all products sold within the U.S. should be produced within the U.S. And that the country should only sign trade agreements, for lower tariffs, with developed economies (Reilly, 1997).

1.2. Alien Nation

Despite the fact that his linkages to the academic community are reduced in comparison to those of Michael Lind, Peter Brimelow is an extremely popular presence in the field of economic works. Most of his emphasis has been placed on editing articles in various publications, such as the Forbes Magazine or the Financial Post. A specific component of his work has been that of militating for a reduction in immigration within the United States. Proof of his commitment to this agenda stand his numerous works, but also his hosting of VDARE -- a highly popular anti-immigration website (VDARE Website, 2009).

Brimelow's list of works includes books such as the Worm in the Apple: How Teacher Unions are Destroying American Education; the Debate in the United States over Immigration or the Patriot Game: Canada and the Canadian Question Revised. Alien Nation: Common Sense about America's Immigration Disaster was printed in 1995 under the aegis of the University of Texas and Random House Publishing, but its circulation has recently been stopped. The controversial book has raised the interest of politicians, economists, sociologists and the general public and, through today, more than a decade after its first publishing, it still raises interest and generates disputes.

The central element in Alien Nation revolves around Brimelow's belief that immigration to the United States is a growing problem that must be immediately addressed. He links numerous social problems, including the challenges faced by the healthcare system or by natural environment (in terms of pollution), to the forces of immigration and argues that the exodus of foreigners into the North American country should be ceased, at least temporarily even, in order to allow the country to restore its systems and regain its national identity. Alien Nation is organized onto fifteen chapters, divided into three parts:

(1) Introduction;

Part I: Truth: (2) the View from the Tenth Circle; (3) the Pincers; (4) How Did it Happen? (5) Why Did it Happen? (6) So What?

Part II: Consequences: (7) Immigration Has Consequences: Economics; (8) Immigration Has (More) Consequences: Economics II; (9) Immigration Has Consequences: Cultural, Social, Environmental...; (10) Immigration Has Consequences: Political Power; (11) Immigration Has Consequences: A Less Perfect Union; (12) Immigration Has Consequences: The War against the Nation-State; (13) Doing the Right Thing? The Morality of Immigration;

Part III: Shipwreck and Salvage: (14) What, Then, Is to Be Done? (15) Conclusion: The Bowels of Christ?

Brimelow commences his book by seeking the genesis of the immigration problem and finds that it is linked to the massacres conducted by totalitarian regimes. To better explain, the author of Alien Nation… believes that the rulers of the United States strived to remove themselves from the influence of totalitarian regimes, such as Adolf Hitler's Nazism, and in doing this, they opened the national boundaries to foreigners from all global regions and welcomed them with opened arms. Despite the morality of this gesture towards the immigrants, Brimelow believes that the rulers of those times did not assess the consequences and that the moment of issuing the 1956 Immigration Act represents the real genesis of the modern day immigration problem. "There is a sense in which current immigration policy is Adolf Hitler's posthumous revenge on America. The U.S. political elite emerged from the war passionately concerned to cleanse itself from all taints of racism or xenophobia. Eventually, it enacted the epochal Immigration Act […] of 1965. And this, quite accidentally, triggered a renewed mass immigration, so huge and so systematically different from anything that had gone before as to transform -- and ultimately destroy -- the one unquestioned victor of World War II: the American nation, as it had evolved by the middle of the twentieth century" (Brimelow, 1995).

Brimelow goes on by stating that the matter of immigration has grown throughout the past recent years due to the modifications obvious within the new immigrants. The author believes that the foreigners who now enter the United States are different from those who came during earlier periods, in the meaning that they are less educated and more likely to become engaged in illegal activities. From this standpoint then, Brimelow states that while immigration does not have to be entirely forbidden, it should be restricted and that whenever deciding upon allowing one foreigner, the authorities should ask themselves if and how can this foreigner benefit the country. If the answer is not easy to find, the person's entry to the U.S. should be restricted.

Unless the matter of immigration is resolved -- in Brimelow's understanding of general restrictions -- it is highly probable for the American society to suffer reductions in its life style, as well as lose its national identity. The author's understanding of restrictions to immigration sees that only the members of the white race and which possess high labor skills should be allowed into the country. Interestingly enough however, he does not consider the Jews to be part of this allowed class, feature which has attracted fierce criticism on grounds on anti-Semitism (National Vanguard Magazine, 1995).

Peter Brimelow bases his approach on the negative impacts the current policy allows immigration to generate upon the modern day American society. Some of his most compelling arguments are succinctly presented below:

The Jews in New York have become wealthier than the native born Americans and, if immigration continues, the same will be true for the Cubans in Miami and the Asians in California

The United States does not need immigration to economically develop; immigration is a luxury that can hurt

The immigrants following the 1965 act are less skilled and less educated than earlier immigrants and reveal reduced abilities to serve the needs of the American population and country

These low skilled immigrants reduce the American workforce average quality and stratify it, with them occupying the positions at the bottom

Immigration increases the costs to welfare, social services and education

Even if the immigrants do generate an economic surplus, its benefits upon native born Americans is virtually inexistent; it does however manage to redistribute the income, feature which is perceived as a net downside

The American culture will suffer alterations due to the new cultural influences brought in by the immigrants

Immigration increases crime rates

Public health is also threatened by the new diseases brought in by foreigners, namely tuberculosis, leprosy, measles, cholera and malaria

As the population grows, pollution and consumption of the U.S.' natural resources also grow, jeopardizing as such the health of the natural environment (Brimelow).

2. The Arguments

Both the Next American Nation… as well as Alien Nation… impress the reader through their arguments. On the one hand, there is Lind who argues that immigration has been allowed by the white overclass in order to serve their personal and political interests. He states that the native born Americans need to take action and urge the country's rulers to impede the process of immigration, and simultaneously act on several fields, mostly economics and politics, to ensure the creation of a Fourth Republic, which will safeguard American well-being and national identity.

On the other hand, there is Brimelow, who argues that the contemporaneous immigration problem has its genesis in the 1965 Immigration Act, after which the quality and the value of the immigrants significantly decreased, to now generate a series of negative impacts upon the native born population. This author also argues that the allowance of foreigners should be restricted to only those individuals which have an ability to benefit the country. Both cases are constructed on solid arguments, but if one should have to choose the strongest case, this would probably be attributed to Brimelow's Alien Nation…the alien nation is in fact the threat to which the American population is subjected if we do not put an end to the immigration disaster. While Lind only militates for the creation of a new republic, which would change the way the United States deals with immigrants, the message sent by Alien Nation… is stronger and points to the fact that unless immediate measures are taken, the native born Americans will end up living in a society that no longer belongs to them, but to aliens (the aliens are understood as immigrants, rather than extraterrestrial beings).

Aside the appeal and the message sent by the titles of the two books, what makes Alien Nation… stronger is its reliance on statistical information. While Lind inserts himself and his historic views and opinions into the book, Brimelow is highly focused on facts and data to make his case. The following lines reveal some statistical information used by Brimelow in increasing the credibility of his book and the strength of its message and arguments:

On page 131, he writes that the years spent in school by the immigrants in 1970 are 0.35 lower than the years spent in school by the immigrants prior to 1965; by 1990, the figure had decreased by another 1.32 years; also at that time, 36.7% of the immigrants were high school dropouts, whereas the same indicator for native born Americans was of only 14.7%

On page 146, Brimelow shows how in the 1970, 6.7% of welfare went to immigrants; by 1990 however, the figure had increased to 13.1%; some specific immigrant groups go well above this average, such as the Dominicans, with a 27.9% rate of participation to welfare

On page 182 Brimelow reveals that 25% of all people imprisoned in 1993 were immigrants

3. Stronger Arguments

Both of the books discussed so far present a rather drastic view on immigration and translate it into a social, political, cultural, economic and environmental threat. Yet, Peter Brimelow's Alien Nation… is more noteworthy due to the strength of its arguments. Michael Lind could have increased the strength of his the Next American Nation… through three distinct actions. First of all, he could have focused less on the French model of politics and republic organization. The U.S. history does not accredit the formation of its modern state on the basis of the three previous republic identified by Lied, nor do historians foresee the emergence of a fourth republic. This approach has limited appeal to the American public and its historic view is less relevant and less applicable in the context of today's immigration problem. The most this organization of information can achieve is a new angle on understanding the emergence of the immigration challenge in the contemporaneous society.