The comparative politics of immigration: policy choices in Germany, Canada, Switzerland and the USA

correct to argue that it is both historically chronic and often acute for conservative parties. As she observes, left-wing parties usually qualify the temptation of nationalism with profession of concern for social justice – in 2007, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke of British jobs for British workers, later clarifying that he was talking about ‘giving people in Britain the skills so that they have the ability to get jobs, which were at present going to people from abroad’ (Keter 2009). Those on the centre right are likely to emphasise credentials as national or one nation parties. As McKeever explains, they are more vulnerable to challenge by populist parties like UKIP (mainly in England) or the Front National in France and the challenge concerns not only authentic popular representation (a matter of party appeal) but also who are the authentic people (a matter of identity). This book asks the questions (1): what explains immigration policies across the three states of the UK, Switzerland and France; why do conservatives choose the policies they do and what factors explain their policy-making logics; and what mechanisms account for policy change or policy deadlock? In addressing these questions, the author deftly unpacks ‘the black box of immigration policymaking’ and her answers are persuasive. McKeever sets herself a difficult task to explain not only particular and distinctive factors influencing change (and continuity) in these three countries but also to propose valuable academic generalisations (23–24). In both parts, her enterprise is successful. Readers will appreciate the comparative framework, which is true to those issues context dependent (150) – varying strength of competition on the right for conservative parties, differing national citizenship ‘regimes’, divergent attitudes to the EU – as well as structural factors – departmental competition, institutional layering and democratic processes. In applying her framework, McKeever is a sure guide to policy-making in the three states and her generalisations for scholars in the field suggestive. Her achievement is complemented by valuable insights she elicits from interviews with politicians, advisors and government officials. I found their comments at times revealing, at times convincing, and at times disturbing but always illuminating. For these nuggets alone, McKeever should be congratulated and her excellent book be read.