The exclusion and marginalisation of immigrants in the Danish welfare society

Abstract

The objective of the article is twofold: 1) to give an empirical picture of the state of affairs with regard to socio-economic and wider socio-cultural and political inclusion of immigrants in the Danish welfare society; 2) to discuss and theorise over the links and possible dilemmas posed by the politics of redistribution and the politics of recognition with the Danish case as a point of departure.In a comparative perspective, the Danish welfare state and the 'Nordic Welfare model' are in many aspects -redistribution, unemployment, poverty reduction, gender equality and economic competitiveness -regarded, if not as an ideal, then at least as a practical example of a society in which a comparatively (e.g. compared to the US and UK) high socio-economic equality and social citizenship standard is successfully combined with high market economic efficiency.However, with regard to the political discourse (right-wing anti-immigration populism has emerged since the nineties), legal rights and wider socio-cultural and socioeconomic inclusion capacity of immigrants and refugees, the 'rosy' picture of the inclusive character of the Danish welfare society has been seriously challenged in recent years. Stricter policies on immigration have been implemented, and the Danish social security and employment policy measures in relation to immigrants and refugees have been changed. On the one hand, these changes have been driven by a strong 'work first' and 'dependency culture/incentive' discourse which has led to a reduction of the duration and level of social benefits and increased poverty among immigrants. On the other hand, other policy changes have pointed towards a more inclusive direction in such fields as education policy, active labour market policy measures and in innovative empowerment programmes in deprived urban districts.

Integration and Language Learning of Newly Arrived Migrants Using Mobile Technology

“…This societal transformation of increased migration puts demands on host societies to provide support to migrants in the integration process and their socio-cultural and socio-economic inclusion (Andersen et al, 2009). Additional challenges often arise when moving to a country with a less widely used language, such as Swedish, which, compared to English or French, is hardly spoken outside the country's borders.…”

“…Andersen et al, 2009;Magis & Shinn, 2009;McKenzie, 2004). In particular, this study investigates how migrants learn a foreign language by means of mobile technology as a mediating device.…”

Labour Force Participation and Employment of Humanitarian Migrants: Evidence from the Building a New Life in Australia Longitudinal Data

“…Compared to natives and skilled immigrants, humanitarian migrants usually have a lower proficiency in the local language, less education and more difficulties to have their qualifications and work experiences recognised by employers. In other words, there may be a negative selection of low-skilled humanitarian migrants into developed countries with highly compressed wage structures and relatively generous and universal welfare benefit systems (Andersen et al 2009;Bratsberg et al 2014;Chin & Cortes 2015). Humanitarian migrants can also be positively selected on socio-demographics and human capital resources preferred by the host society through different migration pathways.…”

Crisis, Miracles and Beyond: Negotiated Adaption of the Danish Welfare State – Edited by Erik Albaek, Leslie C. Eliason, Asbjorn Sonne Norgaard and Herman M. Schwartz

“…In both Canada and Australia the difference between foreign‐born and natives in unemployment is negligible. Andersen et al . highlight that 46 per cent and 34 per cent ‘of working‐age immigrants and descendants from non‐Western and Western countries were outside the labour force, compared to 20 per cent among the native Danes’ (2009: 280). Blume et al . argue that more immigrants either end up in unemployment or self‐employment than native Danes.…”

“…It is not only the labour market that marginalizes immigrants, the welfare state and the public support of the welfare state also seem to marginalize immigrants. Andersen, Larsen and Moeller argue that there has been a widespread exclusion and marginalisation of immigrants in the Danish welfare society. The right‐wing Danish People's Party has, according to the authors developed ‘a new political image as the defenders of the “white Danish Welfare state” that supports “welfare for native Danes” ’ (2009: 279).…”