Immigration policy in Lind's and Brimelow's competing visions of America

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).

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.

Secondly, he could have used more factual information, supported by evidence from accredited statistical institutions. Lind inserted his own take on the issue of immigration, and, whereas there are those radical individuals who will agree with them, the more rational people and those which clearly stated their pro-immigration views will not find the author's opinion realistic and useful. Any editor or even an unspecialized economist, politician or sociologist can make claims and personally assess the role and threat of immigration, but without the proper and sufficient supporting evidence, his view is unlikely to make a general impact.

Finally, the third means in which Michael Lind could have increased the strength of his book would have been that of a more applicable recommendation. Basically, he asks of the United States leaders to cut any commercial ties with the outside world; impose great import tariffs and forbid immigration. These measures conflict with everything globalization stands for and have a reduced chance of being implemented even more so when the United States was the greatest militant of globalization and market liberalization -- ergo the creation of the term of Americanization. What Lind proposes is a regression to an enclosed economy, where the intervention of the state is maximized and the role of economic agents and the ability to set prices based on demand and offer are next to inexistent. Basically, it stands against every principle issued from the time of classic economists and theories, such as Adam Smith's theory of the invisible hand and David Ricardo's theory of the comparative advantage, through today. This standpoint then makes Lind's case unrealistic in today's opened economies.

Despite the critiques that can be brought to both books and the drastic recommendations they forward, fact remains that their worth does not rely on the statistics or historic views they incorporate, but on the fact that they send a message -- they tell the world that immigration is a growing problem and that action must be taken. "The real value of Alien Nation is not in its statistics, however. We don't need to have it proved to us that non-White immigration to the United States is an unmitigated disaster. We already know that. The value of Brimelow's book lies more in its anecdotal commentary on the bigotry, hysteria, and mendacity of the pro-immigration crowd. By exposing them as the crooks they are, by revealing the fallacies in their reasoning, and by not retreating when they begin screeching about racism and anti-Semitism, Brimelow can give courage and inspiration to many people who share our concerns but who heretofore have been afraid to stand up and speak out" (National Vanguard Magazine).

References:

Brimelow, P., 1995, Alien Nation: Common Sense about America's Immigration Disaster, Random House

Lind, M., 1995, the Next American Nation: The New Nationalism and the Fourth American Revolution, Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group

Reilly, J.J., the Next American Nation: The New Nationalism and the Forth American Republic, http://www.johnreilly.info/tna.htm last accessed on September 1, 2009

1995, Alien Nation: Common Sense about America's Immigration Disaster, National Vanguard Magazine, Edition of November-December, No. 115

2009, VDARE Website, http://www.vdare.com/pb / last accessed on September

Michael Lind, New America Foundation, http://www.newamerica.net/people/michael_lind last accessed on September 1, 2009