Go home?: The politics of immigration controversies

In July 2013, the UK government arranged for a van to drive through parts of London carrying the message ‘In the UK illegally? GO HOME or face arrest.’ The vans were short-lived, but they were part of an ongoing trend in government-sponsored communication designed to demonstrate control and toughness around immigration. This book explores the effects of such performances of toughness: on policy, on public debate, on pro-migrant and anti-racist activism, and on the everyday lives of people in Britain. This book both presents research findings, and provides insights into the practice of conducting research on such a charged and sensitive topic.Blending original research, theoretical analysis, and methodological reflections, the book addresses questions such as:Who gets to decide who ‘belongs’?How do anti-migrant sentiments relate to changing forms of racism?Are new divisions, and new solidarities, emerging in the light of current immigration politics? Written in a clear and engaging style, the book sets an agenda for a model of collaborative research between researchers, activists, and people on the ground.