Une nation sur mesure : la politique d’immigration dans la formation des États-Unis
Aristide R. zolberg
W hether decided by the federal government – as is the
case today – or the Confederate states – as before the Civil War –, U.S.
immigration policy has been one of the main tools used to shape the nation.
Since the late 19th century, it has given rise to two heterogeneous coalitions
with respect to the left-right cleavage in a space defined by two perpendicular
axes, one corresponding to the field of political economy, the other to political culture, construed in its identitarian dimension. The first is primarily
composed of the major employers of labor and recently immigrated communities, whereas the second until recently drew together trade unions and
champions of the cultural status quo. Despite the security-minded orientation
taken since 9/11, the restrictionist camp has so far failed to impose a policy
shift similar to the 1920s legislation, and is unlikely to succeed in the near
future.
• L’époque de la fondation
• La vision de Tocqueville
• Une restriction institutionnalisée
• La politique des trois portails
• À nouveau une nation d’immigrants ?
• L’impact du 11 septembre 2001