Open Borders, Open Society? Immigration and Social Integration in Japan

The book investigates the changes and initiatives needed to build a resilient policy regime for a liberal, pluralistic, and inclusive Japan, highlighting critical issues and challenges such as deportation, refugee policy, multicultural education, and disaster protection.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2022
Publisher: Verlag Barbara Budrich

The book explores the past and future trajectory of Japan's immigration and integration policies and related institutions, adopting a cross-disciplinary approach in social sciences. The authors emphasize critical issues and challenges that the nation is facing due to the government's inarticulate migrant-acceptance policy, such as deportation, refugee policy, multicultural education, and disaster protection. They also investigate the changes and initiatives required to establish a resilient policy regime for a liberal, pluralistic, and inclusive Japan.

Introduction:
Japan, a country known for its homogeneous population, has recently experienced a surge in immigration, leading to a growing ethnically diverse society. While this diversity brings cultural richness and economic opportunities, it also poses significant challenges for the nation. In this book, we will examine the past and future trajectory of Japan's immigration and integration policies and related institutions, taking a cross-disciplinary approach in social sciences.

Past and Present:
Japan's immigration history dates back to the 19th century, when the country opened its borders to foreign workers. However, the country's immigration policy was largely restricted to skilled workers and professionals, with limited opportunities for low-skilled workers and refugees. In the late 20th century, however, Japan began to experience a wave of immigration from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, driven by factors such as economic growth, labor shortages, and political instability.

Challenges:
The government's inarticulate migrant-acceptance policy has been a significant challenge for Japan. The country has faced criticism for its deportation practices, refugee policy, and multicultural education. Deportation policies have been criticized for being harsh and inhumane, while refugee policies have been criticized for being slow and inadequate. Multicultural education has been criticized for not adequately addressing the needs of immigrant students.

Improvement:
To improve the situation, the book investigates the changes and initiatives needed to build a resilient policy regime for a liberal, pluralistic, and inclusive Japan. The authors suggest that the government should prioritize the integration of immigrants into society, provide comprehensive support for their integration, and address the root causes of migration. They also suggest that the government should promote multicultural education and awareness, and establish policies that protect the rights of immigrants.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the book explores the past and future trajectory of Japan's immigration and integration policies and related institutions, highlighting critical issues and challenges that the nation is facing. By investigating the changes and initiatives needed to build a resilient policy regime for a liberal, pluralistic, and inclusive Japan, the book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of a growing ethnically diverse society.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 154 x 217 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783847425472