This book analyses politics, practices, and discourses of welfare racism against immigrants under neoliberalism. As an instrument of selection, exclusion, exploitation, and stigmatisation, welfare racism is a distinguishing feature of anti-immigrant racism which has gained new momentum over the last decades. The strength and persistence of this form of racism are linked to several factors, including the colonial roots of the welfare state, racism’s structural position in modern society, the intrinsic limits of social rights in capitalism, and migration policies that are almost always punitive in nature. Rich in documents and historical perspective, this book presents a global analysis of racism within and in the name of the welfare state. It examines discriminatory laws, measures, and practices by state actors and discourses by public figures and organizations, demonstrating the ways these developments are related to the dismantling of the welfare state in the neoliberal era, and to the war on labour and social rights. Integrating perspectives from Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Perocco highlights welfare racism as a global and structured phenomenon producing inequalities and concerning labour as a whole.
Author(s): Fabio Perocco
Series: Marx, Engels, and Marxisms
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 366
City: Cham
Titles Published
Titles Forthcoming
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Racism in and for the Welfare State
A Structural, Structured, Structuring Phenomenon
The Long Thread of Welfare Racism
And Its Deep Roots
Racism Is Inequality: The Living Legacy and the Social Role of Racism
Welfare Racism, a Side of the Institutional Racism in the Context of the Global Racial System
“Welfare Thieves” (and Actual Thieves): Racialised Welfare Discourse Between Mystification and Differential Exploitation of Workers
Tightening Migration Policies, Welfare Racism, Exacerbating Racial Inequalities
The Corrosion of Social Citizenship, and the Need of a Class Anti-Racism
The Volume
Notes
References
2 The Welfare State Struggling with Capitalist Hybris
Introduction
It’s Impossible to Reproduce the Labour Force as a Pure Commodity
Capital Can’t Enable by Itself the Intergenerational Reproduction of the Labour Force
Welfare State as Solution of the Previous Issues
The Neoliberal Dismantlement of the Welfare State in Favour of the Market and Its Limits
The Self-Referencing Individuality as an Ally of Neoliberalism
Notes
References
3 Welfare State and the Hunt for “Social Benefit Cheaters and Profiteers” Migrants: The Case of Belgium
Introduction
Labour Migration and the Welfare State Settling
Enforcement of Equal Treatment for Migrants in Social Protection
Migrants: A Threat to the Social Protection System?
Political Rhetoric on Migrants’ Abusers: Fear and Mystification
Restrictions and Repeated Infringements of Migrants’ Rights
Notes
References
4 The Swedish Racial Welfare Regime in Transition
Introduction: The Welfare State As a Projection Arena
Welfare in Racial, Gendered Capitalism: A Theoretical and Conceptual Reflection
The Swedish Racial (and Gendered) Welfare Regime
Swedish Welfare’s Racial Configuration
Competing Projects of Racial (and Gendered) Welfare Capitalism
Looking Back to the Romantic Image of What Was Once the Welfare State
The Neoliberal Attack on the Welfare State
The Neo-Racist (Neoliberal) Welfare Project Defending White Peoples’ Home
Towards A Fourth Swedish Welfare Regime? Mobilisation, Resistance, and Social Justice.
Notes
References
5 The Public Charge: The Capitalist Politics of Labor, Migration, and Austerity in the United States
American Exceptionalism: Capitalism, State Formation, and Labor Control
The Class Politics of the Poorhouse
Extension of the Able-Bodied Worker into Immigration Policy
Expanding the Public-Charge Framework
Re-Emergence of the Public Charge in the Era of Neoliberalism
The Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act
State Policy Encourages Far-Right Mobilization Against Immigrants
Trump and the New Public Charge
References
6 Whose Welfare State? A Racialised Logic to [Un]Protect Immigration and Asylum in Spain
Introduction
Welfare and Migration in the Global North
Racialised Welfare, Citizenship and Migration in Spain
Welfare for Whom? [Un]Protection of Asylum Seekers in Spain
Abandonment at Reception
A Patchwork Welfare System: Legitimising Racialised Inequality
Cast from the System by a Racialised Logic
Notes
References
7 The 23 Million Romanians, Igor, and the Others: Welfare State, Migration, and Racism in Hungary
Introduction
Twenty-Three Million Romanians and Igor: The Case of Minority-Hungarians
Welfare, the Work-Based State, and Exclusion of Migrants and Asylum Seekers
Conclusion
Notes
References
8 Continuities and Transformations of Racism in German Welfare Capitalism
Racism and National Welfare Capitalism
The Long-Standing Lie About “the Non-Immigrant Country Germany”
The Beginning of the Debate About Refugee Migration
The Continuation of Contradictions: New Manifestations of Racism…
… and a New Focus on Utility
Transnationalisation of German Welfare Capitalism
German Welfare Capitalism from Below
Conclusion
References
9 In a Country Boasting a Welfare State, Do Black Lives Matter Less?
Introduction
Labour Shortages
Problematising Migration
Promoting Deregulation and Disadvantage
The Penalties of Systemic Racism
Conclusion
References
10 Welfare State as a Political Weapon: Institutional Racism Against Arabs, Asylum Seekers and the Minorities in Israel
Origins and Evolution of the Israeli Welfare System
The Political Use of the Welfare System
A Closer Look at the Welfare Policies
The Child Allowances Schemes
The Education System
Unequal Distribution Among Ethnic Groups
Reduced Access to Welfare Services for Asylum Seekers
The Deposit Law
Health and Welfare
Conclusion
Notes
References
11 The System of Racial Discrimination in the Italian Welfare State
Roots and Features of Racial Inequality
Equal, or Maybe Not: The Early Signs of Welfare Racism
The Rise of Welfare Racism Between Casualization and Criminalisation of Immigrants
Forms and Mechanisms of Welfare Discrimination
A Flood of Discriminations
War on Migrants and Persistency of Welfare Racism
New Benefits, Same Discrimination
“Like Worms in Ham”
My House, My Rules
School Bell Does not Toll
Conclusion
Notes
References
12 Anti-Immigrant Racism Within the Brazilian Welfare State and the Expulsion of Cuban Doctors
Introduction
Attacks on the Brazilian Welfare State and its Culture of Medicine
The “Slaves In White Coats” and the “Shame of National Health”: The Spread of Racism Against Cuban Doctors
Expulsion of Cuban Doctors, “Clandestinization” and Job Insecurity
Conclusion
Notes
References
13 Japanese Welfare State and Racism: Is the Myth of Social Homogeneity Overshadowing Discrimination Patterns on Migrants?
Introduction
Formation and Transformation of the Japanese Welfare State
A Theoretical Underpinning
“Welfair” State
Racism in the Light of Cultural Dichotomies
Examples of Discrimination in the Japanese Welfare State: Ōita’s Case
The Japanese Welfare Law: A Loophole in the System
New Problems, Old Patterns. COVID-19 and the Rise of “Emergency Racism”
Hate Speech in the Name of Welfare State
Conclusion
Appendix
Notes
References
Index
