Unions, Immigration, and Internationalization: New Challenges and Changing Coalitions in the United States and France

by L. Haus

Overview

Labor unions in France and the U.S. opposed certain restrictionist immigration policy measures in the late twentieth century, whereas they had pressured for restrictionism in the early twentieth century. Leah Haus asks why unions changed coalitions. Haus argues that one needs to focus on the challenges of internationalization to explain this change. Many union leaders consider economic internationalization and/or the internationalization of human rights as undermining the effectiveness and/or desirability of certain restrictionist measures. At the same time, many union leaders see support for certain non-restrictionist measures as a way to facilitate organizing immigrants, which is an alternative strategy for improving wages and work conditions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312294946
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	09/17/2002
Series:	Europe in Transition: The NYU European Studies Series
Edition description:	2002
Pages:	219
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

LEAH HAUS is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Vassar College. Her research interests are in international political economy and European politics. Dr. Haus has received a variety of fellowships, and is the author of Globalizing the Gatt: The Soviet Union's Successor States, Eastern Europe, and the International Trading System.

Table of Contents

Introduction Explaining Union Immigration Policy Preferences In Pursuit of Complete Control Pragmatic Adaptation French First Resisting Restrictionists Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

'This work will appeal to specialists on immigration and union history because unions' changing positions are very clearly documented...' - R.M. Whaples, Choice

From the Publisher

Haus (political science, Vassar College) considers the changing position of labor unions in regard to immigration, focusing on the shift from their advocacy of nativist policies at the beginning of the twentieth century toward today's less restrictionist line. Based on an examination of parallel developments in the United States and France, Haus considers the central roles of economic globalization and human rights concerns in shaping union politics. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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