In his cover story for the October issue of Prospect, the economistPaul Collier argues (£) that for too long we have allowed xenophobes to set the terms of the immigration debate in this country. Contrary to what the xenophobes contend, the right question to ask about immigration is not whether it's good or bad, but rather how much is enough. Immigration controls are necesssary, therefore, but we need better ones. "What is embarrassing about current ... controls," Collier suggests, "is not their existence but their inept design. That we are reduced to putting posters on the side of lorries encapsulates the cumulative legacy of ineptitude."
In his accompanying review of Collier's new book, Exodus: Immigration and Multiculturalism in the 21st Century, the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (£) worries that Collier takes it for granted that migration is always the result of "rational choices on the part of immigrants." Yet, Williams goes on, "an hour or two in an advice centre would reveal that this is a pretty blunt instrument for dealing with a Polish restaurant worker, a Somali refugee, a Zimbabwean nurse and a Chinese post-doctoral engineer."
PLUSan exclusive YouGov poll for Prospect (£) reveals how public attitudes towards immigration have hardened since 2005. Today, 64% believe that immigrant families receive too much in welfare payments (a 12% increase since 2005). And 45% believe that immigrant families are responsible for high levels of violent crime (a 20% increase). The poll also shows how attitudes to different immigrant groups vary. Romanians and Nigerians are the least popular groups; Australians the most popular.
In her cover story for last month's issue of the magazine, Prospect editor Bronwen Maddox called for an inquiry into Britain's role in the war in Afghanistan. For this issue, Prospect convened a group of high-ranking military personnel, diplomats and politicians, all of whom were closely involved in the prosecution of the war, to discuss the questions Maddox raised. The ensuing discussion (£) provided ample of evidence of systemic political and bureaucratic dysfunction.
Also in this issue:
In his accompanying review of Collier's new book, Exodus: Immigration and Multiculturalism in the 21st Century, the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (£) worries that Collier takes it for granted that migration is always the result of "rational choices on the part of immigrants." Yet, Williams goes on, "an hour or two in an advice centre would reveal that this is a pretty blunt instrument for dealing with a Polish restaurant worker, a Somali refugee, a Zimbabwean nurse and a Chinese post-doctoral engineer."
PLUSan exclusive YouGov poll for Prospect (£) reveals how public attitudes towards immigration have hardened since 2005. Today, 64% believe that immigrant families receive too much in welfare payments (a 12% increase since 2005). And 45% believe that immigrant families are responsible for high levels of violent crime (a 20% increase). The poll also shows how attitudes to different immigrant groups vary. Romanians and Nigerians are the least popular groups; Australians the most popular.
In her cover story for last month's issue of the magazine, Prospect editor Bronwen Maddox called for an inquiry into Britain's role in the war in Afghanistan. For this issue, Prospect convened a group of high-ranking military personnel, diplomats and politicians, all of whom were closely involved in the prosecution of the war, to discuss the questions Maddox raised. The ensuing discussion (£) provided ample of evidence of systemic political and bureaucratic dysfunction.
Also in this issue:
- Former French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and others discuss what the West should do in Syria.
- Andrew Adonis, former Labour Transport Secretary and member of the Blair and Brown governments, criticises Boris Johnson's record (£) as mayor of London.
- Chuka Umunna, shadow Business Secretary, warns that Britain risks losing out in the global economic race.
- Francine Prose asks whether we should care about fashion.
- Philip Collins and John Goldthorpe dismantle the political consensus on social mobility.
- Economists Mark Littlewood and Jonathan Portes go head to head on the question whether George Osborne's economic strategy has been vindicated.
- And Richard Dowden charts (£) the waning of British influence in Africa.
