The Global Migration Turn

This chapter explores the transformative impact of global migration during the 1970s, focusing on the shift towards restrictive immigration policies in Northern countries. It argues that these policies resulted more from the unintended consequences of the welfare and labour market reforms introduced during this period than from the direct impact of imbalances between the Global North and South. The chapter unfolds in four sections: it first examines the economic and demographic drivers of South–North migration. It then analyses the rise and fall of migrant labour integration and the subsequent move towards immigration restrictions. Finally, it assesses the global implications of these policies, from economic realignments to diplomatic tensions. By integrating global conditions with national responses, this analysis enriches our understanding of the period’s influence on contemporary migration politics.