The connection between racist discourse, resettlement policy and outcomes in Australia

Abstract

The influence of ultranationalist political parties and calls for culturally homogeneous societies are on the rise in Western democracies. This paper examines the connection between rising exclusionary narratives, resettlement policy and practices, and subsequent resettlement outcomes for refugee migrants. Analysis of empirical evidence from a recently released survey of humanitarian migrants demonstrates how Australian social structures and institutional practices thwart the social and economic inclusion of refugee migrants admitted for settlement in Australia. I argue that, despite evidence of these systemic flaws, the Australian Government is unwilling to address these issues and instead scapegoats individuals and minority groups for their asserted inability or unwillingness to adopt Australian values. Such action risks deepening exclusionary spaces among resettled refugee migrants and inciting intolerant public voices. Show more