For many Americans, the spread of anti-immigrant sentiment in America has been spotlighted with the Trump administration’s clear standpoint against immigration. However, this is not isolated to America but rather a historical trend in which politicians, populations, or both target migrants as scapegoats for domestic conflict. As a “Japananese First” far right party rises to power in Japan and anti-immigrant protests take the streets in Poland, it is clear that the trend continues internationally.
The Japanese Trump?
The Sanseito Japanese party initially launched in 2020 on an anti-mask and anti-vaccine platform. Since then, the party has gained increased media attention and support by youth voters. Despite only holding one seat in Japan’s upper house for three years, the party recently won 14 seats in the house. This is largely due to their nationalist policies. Sohei Kamiya, the party’s leader, has targeted immigrants and foreign visitors as reasons for issues within Japan and warned against a “silent invasion”. Many have drawn apparent comparisons to Sanseito and the far-right AFD party in Germany and the MAGA movement in the United States. His political agenda prioritizes traditional gender roles and patriotic education along with greater restrictions on tourism and immigration. Kamiya has cited being inspired by Donald Trump and his political style. This is not only apparent in his immigration policy but also his use of controversial remarks on social media to gain notoriety. The usage of a slogan, “Japanese First”, also seems to mirror Trump’s “Make America Great Again”.
Sanseito, along with other opposition parties, are rising in popularity as frustrations with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba rise. Although the LDP itself is a conservative party, many Japanese citizens complain that the party is not conservative enough and lacks the strong nationalism that parties like Sanseito provide. The LDP’s recent majority loss in both houses shows the extent of Japanese frustration with the current political state. Sanseito may not be a major political party at the moment but the popular anti-immigrant sentiment it represents shows a turn in the tide for immigration policy in Japan.
Protests take over Poland
On Saturday, July 19, “Stop Immigration” protests were hosted in 80 cities across Poland. The protests were organized by the far-right Confederation Liberty party and Independence party. Protestors demanded the closing of borders and claimed the Polish people deserved their rights to safety. Controversy against immigration, especially in regards to asylum-seekers, has been a recurring issue in Poland but the recent influx of migrants has been a catalyst for anti-immigrant sentiment. In some cities, counter “Stop Fascism” protests occurred with citizens having signs with slogans such as "Accept refugees – expel fascists," and "Migrants welcome". The police were forced to maintain peace between the two rival groups.
The Polish government has shared this stance against immigration recently by introducing stricter border control, banning asylum claims from Belarus, and allowing deportations to Afghanistan and Syria. Despite these measures against immigration, many do not believe them to be far enough. Complaints against the “Islamisation of Europe” and the “dangers of immigration” show the deeper roots of anti-immigration in Poland.
Built on Blame
Fearmongering, dehumanizing, and claiming ties to crime are all part of government rhetoric against immigrants. During economic difficulty, governments and citizens alike look towards blaming immigrants for the rise in crime and stealing jobs. As data supports, immigrants and native-born workers often work different jobs and complement each other rather than compete. There is no concrete correlation or causation between immigration and unemployment but these claims fuel the rhetoric. Evidence instead shows the contrary, that immigration fuels innovation and economic growth, especially in the case of the United States. Furthermore, claims that immigrants create crime are also unfounded. A study for Texan arrests found that U.S. citizens are ‘more than twice as likely to be arrested for violent crimes’.
Political science professor Hiromi Murakami claims that the anti-immigrant attitude by far right political groups are based on unfounded claims and racial purity culture: “There is an economic downturn, prices are up, there is concern because of the US tariffs, but it is easy for people to take their frustrations out on foreigners." By finding a group to blame in times of domestic trouble, both governments and citizens alike offer an easy explanation and unifier for complex problems. However, this fear and hate towards foreigners offers no real solution and instead pushes xenophobia and division.