Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Immigration policy under New Labour
T2 - Exploring a critical juncture
AU - Consterdine, Erica
AU - Hampshire, James
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Under the Labour governments of 1997-2010, UK economic immigration policy was transformed from one of the most restrictive to one of the most liberal in Europe. This development was especially puzzling given the noted path dependence of immigration policy, as well as the absence of any public demand for liberalisation. In this article we explain immigration policy liberalisation under Labour using the concept of a 'critical juncture': a short window of opportunity in which structural influences on political action are relaxed. Based on over 50 elite interviews, the article argues that during Labour's second term in office (2001-2005) three factors combined to cause policy liberalisation: a strong economy with labour and skills shortages; a government ideologically committed to globalisation; and institutional reforms to the policymaking machinery that introduced new actors, both governmental and non-governmental, into the immigration policy field. While none of these factors would have been sufficient on their own, together they were sufficient combined causes for immigration policy change.
AB - Under the Labour governments of 1997-2010, UK economic immigration policy was transformed from one of the most restrictive to one of the most liberal in Europe. This development was especially puzzling given the noted path dependence of immigration policy, as well as the absence of any public demand for liberalisation. In this article we explain immigration policy liberalisation under Labour using the concept of a 'critical juncture': a short window of opportunity in which structural influences on political action are relaxed. Based on over 50 elite interviews, the article argues that during Labour's second term in office (2001-2005) three factors combined to cause policy liberalisation: a strong economy with labour and skills shortages; a government ideologically committed to globalisation; and institutional reforms to the policymaking machinery that introduced new actors, both governmental and non-governmental, into the immigration policy field. While none of these factors would have been sufficient on their own, together they were sufficient combined causes for immigration policy change.
KW - critical juncture
KW - historical institutionalism
KW - immigration
KW - New Labour
U2 - 10.1057/bp.2013.19
DO - 10.1057/bp.2013.19
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84906565348
VL - 9
SP - 275
EP - 296
JO - British Politics
JF - British Politics
SN - 1746-918X
IS - 3
ER -