UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 1 Immigrants in Iceland – Realities and Political Discourses Guðmundur Hálfdanarson EURES Mobility Conference Reykjavík, 22 June 2007

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 2 Immigration in Iceland – the historical context Traditionally a homogeneous nation –ethnic –religious –homogeneity and national construction Emigration rather than immigration Last decade –economic expansion –EEA and opening of the borders

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 3 Public Debates on Immigration Immigration and Politics –until 2006: immigration had not been a major issue for any political party –Ásgeir Hannes Eríksson – former member of parliament: interest in forming a “nationalist party” “Around one third of the Icelandic nation considers possible that they would vote for a party which opposes increased immigration to Iceland” (20 April 2006)

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 4 “Iceland for Icelanders?” … the flow of foreigners to Iceland is so great that it is impossible to document … 2015: 80 thousand foreigners in Iceland “If I were Polish, I would not think twice before I moved to Iceland. My words should not be understood so that I have anything against the Poles or other Christian people from our part of the world.” “We want to limit the access to our welfare society to Icelanders. We do not want to lose the control of the situation. I do not want to invite the brethren of Mohammed to Iceland who have their own laws and does not respect the minimum human rights and offend women. I do not want to allow groups of people who cause problems all over Europe to settle in Iceland.” “Do we accept that every fifth Icelander will not speak Icelandic in 2020? Know the history of the nation! We are like a small grain of sand in the sea of nations, and the independent Icelandic nation and Icelandic culture has never faced as great threat as it does at the moment. It is our role to choose the way forward. For Iceland and Icelanders.” Jón Magnússon, 1 Nov. 2006

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 5 The Icelandic Discourse on Immigration – some recurrent themes I really like this hardworking people … that is as long as they are from our part of the world I would like to limit the immigration flow to Iceland because Icelandic employers treat them so badly … “We” will drown if nothing is done to limit the immigration The need for immigrant labor could be reduced if the participation of the elderly and handicapped in the labor market would be facilitated The parliament should have prolonged the limits on the free flow of immigrants from the new EU countries in 2004 –the authorities should guide the immigration The only political party to support these opinions was the Liberal Party

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 6 Immigrants in Iceland,

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 7 Foreigners in Iceland as a Proportion of the Total Population,

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 8 Nationality of Immigrants – selected years and regions

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 9 The Age of Immigrants

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 10 Unemployment and Number of Employed

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 11 Immigrants and the Icelandic Economy The overwhelming majority of the immigrants comes to seek employment The overwhelming majority of the immigrants comes from the EU Immigration has not led to increased unemployment The variation in the number of immigrants reflects the instability in the Icelandic economy The Icelandic economy would have collapsed in the last few years if the immigration have not increased –there are no economic reasons to oppose immigration

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 12 Is Opposition to Immigration Popular?

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 13 Immigration and the Icelandic Politics The discussion is reflects fear and prejudices –“arguments” against immigration are absolutely “irrational” the situation is very different from the other Nordic countries –opposition against immigration does not need rational arguments The conditions for populist right-wing nationalism are good –widespread opposition to immigration at times when it has no economic foundation increased competition on the labor market will increase the tension –Icelandic political parties have been hesitant to use the latent opposition to immigration but the authorities have used the tools they have to impede all non- European immigration

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 14 Proportion of Legal Residents in the Nordic Countries Born Abroad

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 15 Where do the Immigrants Come from? (1 Jan. 2006)

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 16 The Origins of Nordic Immigrants – selected countries (N)

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 17 The Origins of Nordic Immigrants – selected countries (proportion of all born abroad)

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 18 Conclusions In a few years, Iceland has become a multi-cultural society The immigration is a response to high demand for labor There is latent opposition to immigration in Iceland –limited political desire to use this opposition The authorities have been extremely selective in their immigration policy –the “multi”-cultural society is not as “multi” as it would be with more open borders The Liberal Party was accused of running racist agenda –but are they the only guilty party?

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND – DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 19