Summary and Conclusions

Abstract

Immigration has a tremendous impact on the demography, culture, economy, and politics of a state. It is the key demographic factor responsible for population growth in most Western societies, and the cause of cultural conflicts and of a transformation from relatively homogenous to multicultural societies. Immigration has also contributed to the rise of extreme-right anti-immigrant parties in most EU member states and to attempts to achieve a common EU migration and asylum policy. Both U.S. and European policymakers have defined immigration as one of the biggest domestic challenges and political issues facing their nations.