The 28th Country

Abstract

America was made of wave after wave of immigrants, most of them from poor European countries. It may be a unique case, but this country, actually defined by its immigrants, became ‘number one’ in less than two centuries. Immigrants pouring in were not attracted by America’s social welfare system; essentially there was none. What they wanted was to find work and become part of a system that gave them the chance to succeed independently of origin, creed or social status — the American Dream. They naturally integrated into American society because they had subscribed to its system and values even before reaching its shores. It was a society, by and large, made up of people just like them. If not achieved by often illiterate first-generation immigrants, full integration was generally achieved by an educated second generation. Imported people provided a ready-made pool of low-cost and eager labour and contributed to the country’s dynamism and rich cultural diversity. Among these immigrants no group represented a challenge to the existing system or population. The case of Europe is, unfortunately, radically different.