Although ambivalence characterizes the stance of scholars toward the desirability of close opinion-policy linkages in general, it is especially evident with regard to immigration. The controversy and disagreement about whether public opinion should drive immigration policy are among the factors making immigration one of the most difficult political debates across the West. Leading international experts and aspiring researchers from the fields of political science and sociology use a range of case studies from North America, Europe and Australia to guide the reader through the complexities of this debate offering an unprecedented comparative examination of public opinion and immigration.

Introduction, Gary P. Freeman, Randall Hansen, David L. Leal. Section I: Demography and Public Opinion. Chapter 1: Resistance to Immigrants and Asylum Seekers in the European Union: Cross-National Comparisons of Public Opinion, Marcel Coenders, Marcel Lubbers, Peer Sheepers. Chapter 2: Cross-National and Cross-Time Views of Immigration: Evidence from the Eurobarometer, Lauren McLaren. Chapter 3: The Paradox of Immigration Attitudes in Luxembourg: A Pan-European Comparison, Joel Fetzer. Chapter 4: The Structure of Self-Interest(s): Applying Comparative Theory to U.S. Immigration Attitudes, D. Stephen Voss, Jason E. Kehrberg, Adam M. Butz. Section II: Economics. Chapter 5: Individual Attitudes towards Immigration: Economic vs. Non-Economic Determinants, Giovanni Facchini, Anna Maria Mayda, Riccardo Puglisi. Chapter 6: Voter Attitudes towards High- and Low-Skilled Immigrants: Evidence from a Survey Experiment, Jens Hainmueller, Michael Hiscox. Section III: Framing and Institutional Effects. Chapter 7: Amnesty, Guest Workers, Fences! Oh My! Public Opinion about 'Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Deborah Schildkraut. Chapter 8: Threat and Immigration Attitudes in Liberal Democracies: The Role of Framing in Structuring Public Opinion, Gallya Lahav. Chapter 9: Media Effects and Immigration Policy in Australia, Bob Birrell. Chapter 10: Party Politics and Public Opinion on Immigration and Anti-Discrimination Policy, Terri Givens, Ernest McGowan. Chapter 11: Who's Afraid of Immigration? The Effects of Pro- and Anti-Immigrant Threatening Ads among Latinos, African Americans, and Whites, Bethany Albertson, Shana Kushner Gadarian. Section IV: Diversity and Opinion. Chapter 12: Native Born and Foreign Born Attitudes towards Receptivity and Conformity: The Dynamics of Opinion Change in Canada, Steven White, Neil Nevitte. Chapter 13L Immigration Reforms from the Perspective of the Target of the Reform: Immigrant Generation and Latino Policy Preferences on Immigration Reform, Louis DeSipio