New Ways for a Compromise in Migration Policy

The German populations’ immigration policy preferences are more nuanced than commonly understood and it is possible to bring together contrasting views. This is shown in a current study of sociologists and political scientists of the University of Mannheim and New York University.

Migration is an increasingly dominating topic in politics and is discussed with increasing vehemence among the German population. Those in favor of migration say that the lack of skilled workers and shortage of staff will become worse without immigration. Those who oppose migration fear that an increasing number of immigrants will exceed the reception capacities of the country. The new study headed by Mannheim sociologist Professor Dr. Marc Helbling and the Mannheim political scientist Professor Dr. Richard Traunmüller shows that the populations’ immigration preferences depend on two factors, besides the sheer number of immigrants: the entrance criteria for immigration and the migrants’ participation rights in Germany. Professor Rahsaan Maxwell, Ph.D. of New York University is co-author of the study published in the Comparative Political Studies journal.

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