Book Description

This timely edited collection by Dennis Raphael critically analyzes how public policy directions affect the health outcomes of immigrants. Using a comparative case study methodology, the contributing authors consider the immigration experience in nine developed nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Immigration, Public Policy, and Health sets out to ascertain if the form of the welfare state—whether social democratic, conservative, or liberal—interacts with the politics of a nation to shape the lived experiences and health of newcomers. Highlighting the importance of understanding how public policies determine the quality and distribution of the social determinants of health, this volume identifies numerous issues that are common across the nine nations and suggests future directions for immigration policy and research. The contributors address current topics, including the “healthy immigrant effect,” the experiences of immigrants versus refugees, the influence of anti-immigration political parties, and the link between multiculturalism policies and successful integration. Featuring chapter objectives, critical thinking questions, glossaries, and annotated lists of recommended readings and websites, this highly accessible text is the perfect resource for instructors and students in health sciences, sociology, and immigration studies.