Abstract
What are the causes, consequences, and remedies of mass migration and growing inequality? This paper examines these two phenomena from a broadly left perspective, arguing they result from evolving forms of capital accumulation and imperialism. Although migration may not be the first word that comes to mind in thinking of Marxism, Marx did theorize the relationship between capital accumulation and migration. Marx argued migration involves the expropriation of farmers and the exploitation of workers, reflecting both the formation and use of “surplus population” by capital to maximize its profit. In short, that the history of capitalism is the history of people, commodities, and value on the move.” In this paper, I employ an approach grounded in elements of Marxist theory, migration and immigration studies, social movement studies, and political science to examine two periods in the U.S.: 1870-1925 and 1970-2025, two periods when: (1) the proportion of immigrants peaked in the U.S. at the same time of rising inequality and social change; (2) when immigration and inequality became salient issues that generated sharp class and political conflict; and (3) when immigrants and workers organized politically and mass social movements manifested in response. The paper also highlights cases where immigrants and workers organize across divides to exercise collective power and advance radical politics, cases that hold valuable lessons today for scholars, policy makers and organizers seeking equitable and just solutions today. The study aims to further research that employ left approaches to these subjects that top political agendas nearly everywhere.
Presenters
Ron HaydukProfessor, Department of Political Science, San Francisco State University, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Migration, Inequality, United States, Marxism, Imperialism
