The Denmark Model: How Immigration Policy Impacts Political Success

The Global Immigration Backlash

From the United States and Germany to Italy and Sweden, a significant shift is occurring in the political landscape. A growing unease surrounding mass immigration, both legal and illegal, is impacting elections and empowering the far right. The New York Times, as noted by David Leonhardt, is finally catching up to this politically charged reality.

Leonhardt highlights a stark contrast: While the left falters across much of the Western world, Denmark stands apart. Their secret? Danish progressives heeded the concerns of working-class voters regarding immigration and subsequently adjusted policy to reduce immigration levels.

This observation echoes JD Vance's provocative statement at the Munich Security Conference: "No voter on this continent went to the ballot box to open the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants." Denmark, unlike its neighbors, listened to its electorate.

Denmark: A Model of Social Cohesion and Immigration Control

Denmark, long admired for its robust social safety net and democratic values, has historically prioritized its national identity. Known for high levels of trust in government and institutions, Denmark offers a compelling case study in navigating the complexities of immigration.

As political scientist Robert Putnam observed, large influxes of culturally diverse immigrants can diminish social trust. This reinforces the argument made by free-market economist Milton Friedman, and seemingly embraced by Denmark's Social Democrats, that generous welfare states and large-scale immigration are ultimately incompatible.

The American and Canadian Divergence

While European voters largely resisted open-border policies, North American voters in 2020 and 2021 seemed to embrace them, at least as presented by Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau. The subsequent influx of potentially millions of undocumented immigrants, however, appears to have exceeded expectations and strained public sentiment.

For many Americans, restricting immigration clashes with their own family histories and the memories of ancestors who arrived during the Ellis Island era. This emotional connection complicates the debate and makes finding common ground challenging.

Assimilation: A Lost Art?

The challenge lies in balancing the benefits of immigration with the potential downsides. Historical examples, such as the post-Civil War influx of immigrants to the American North, demonstrate successful assimilation. However, modern public institutions often seem to view assimilation as a form of oppression rather than a path to integration.

Recent events in Germany, from stabbings in Solingen and Aschaffenburg to a car attack in Magdeburg, highlight the anxieties surrounding integration and the subsequent rise of the Alternative for Germany party. Similar trends can be observed across Europe, where anxieties over immigration have led to significant political upheavals.

Getting to Denmark: A New Political Imperative

While everyday interactions between native-born citizens and immigrants are often harmonious, the sheer scale of culturally diverse immigration can strain economies and erode social trust. Existing assimilation efforts appear inadequate, especially compared to the successes of the Ellis Island era.

Ultimately, voters are signaling their dissatisfaction with the current approach to immigration, suggesting that perhaps it’s time for the world to take a closer look at the “Denmark model.”