The nations of Western Europe and North America (the United States and Canada) have simultaneously experienced enormous waves of immigration over the past quarter century. These new immigrants come overwhelmingly from poorer countries, often ex-colonies, and culturally they differ significantly from the settled populations of these wealthy democracies. In both North America and Europe, this immigration poses profound questions for national identity. What does it mean to be an American? Who can be German? What is a French citizen? Given the large numbers of immigrants seeking permanent residence, these societies have come to question what the character of citizenship is and should be. In this course, we will explore a series of issues related to the new immigration, including the social, economic, and political forces giving rise to it; how different nations have chosen to define citizenship and how those rules affect immigrants; the strategies for incorporation of immigrants followed by recipient states, ranging from multiculturalism to assimilation; attempts to control immigration; and the implications of immigration for recipient societies' economic prosperity and national security. The course will focus about equally on immigration to Western Europe and to the U.S. and Canada. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every two years.