Nativism (politics)
Nativism is the political policy of promoting or protecting the interests of native-born or indigenous inhabitants over those of immigrants,[1][2] including the support of anti-immigration and immigration-restriction measures.[3] In the United States, nativism does not refer to a movement led by Native Americans, also referred to as American Indians.[4]
Not to be confused with Native nationalism or Native American civil rights.Definition[edit]
According to Cas Mudde, a University of Georgia professor, nativism is a largely American notion that is rarely debated in Western Europe; the word originated with mid-nineteenth-century political parties in the United States, most notably the Know Nothing party, which saw Catholic immigration from nations such as Germany and Ireland as a serious threat to native-born Protestant Americans.[5]
According to Joel S. Fetzer, opposition to immigration commonly arises in many countries because of issues of national, cultural, and religious identity. The phenomenon has especially been studied in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as in continental Europe. Thus, nativism has become a general term for opposition to immigration which is based on fears that immigrants will "distort or spoil" existing cultural values.[6] In situations where immigrants greatly outnumber the original inhabitants,[7] nativists seek to prevent cultural change.
Beliefs that contribute to anti-immigration sentiment include:[8]
Hans-Georg Betz examines three facets of nativism: economic, welfare, and symbolic. Economic nativism preaches that good jobs ought to be reserved for native citizens. Welfare nativism insists that native citizens should have absolute priority in access to governmental benefits. Symbolic nativism calls on the society and government to defend and promote the nation's cultural heritage. Betz argues that economic and welfare themes were historically dominant, but that since the 1990s symbolic nativism has become the focus of radical right-wing populist mobilization.[11][12]