The political economy of immigration securitization: nation-building and racialization in Canada

Abstract

This article uses theories of political economy, immigration securitization, and critical race theory, and uses two historical periods as case studies, to advance understanding of how immigration has been securitized across various scales, fields, and temporalities since the nineteenth century. The racialization and Othering of individuals identified as a risk to Canada’s nation-building project led to the constitution of diverse security formations. Each formation included social and national components, even if weighted differently depending on their context.