Migration and Uneven Development: The Resurgence of Neopopulism

The resurgence of populism has been often attributed to the huge influx of immigrants into developed countries. Immigrants are viewed as encroaching upon the already shrinking economic opportunities for citizens besides reshaping the “ancient” culture and society of these recipient countries. However, evidence in most countries have shown that migrants have contributed positively to national incomes through their labor and skill and injected much-needed vitality and new ideas in societies and economies. The threat of globalization and automation has suddenly transformed immigrants as the primary cause of economic decline and loss of cultural superiority of the once affluent and progressive nations. This raises fundamental questions on uneven development among regions, reskilling and upskilling of those rendered jobless from adoption of new technology and the ever-increasing refugee crises.