Poles in Britain. Turks in Germany. Mexicans in the US. Filipinos in Japan. Immigration is among the most sensitive political issues. Rapid economic globalisation in the past 30 years, weakening of border controls following the collapse of the communist bloc and the spread of low-cost international communications have stimulated unprecedented waves of movement.

For natives, immigrants have long been a source of suspicion. Once they were accused of starting fires and stealing children. Today they are linked with everything from welfare scrounging to Islamic terrorism.