How does economic success from migrant labour become identity politics?

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Economic Success from Migrant Labour Becomes Identity Politics Through Perceived Threats to National Identity

The transformation of economic gains from migrant labour into identity politics is primarily driven by the perception that migrant people, unlike migrant plants, pose a direct threat to a nation's cultural and social identity. While economic contributions of migrant flora like rubber and oil palm are readily embraced for their role in GDP growth, migrant humans are often viewed with suspicion due to the visible cultural elements they introduce. This is particularly acute during periods of economic hardship, where anxieties about cultural dilution can overshadow the acknowledged long-term economic benefits of migration.
The Contrast Between Migrant Flora and Fauna

The successful integration of plants such as the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) into Malaysia's economy serves as a stark contrast to the reception of migrant workers. These plants, originating from the Amazon and West Africa respectively, have become integral to Malaysia's economic prosperity, contributing significantly to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) without challenging existing social structures. Their economic utility is undisputed, and their origins are largely forgotten as they are embraced as "Malaysian" due to their long establishment, with the oil palm having arrived in 1910. This acceptance highlights a selective embrace of "migrants" based on their perceived impact on national identity.
Economic Precarity and the Scapegoating of Migrant People

In times of economic instability, such as stagnant wages or housing crises, migrant individuals can become convenient scapegoats. The argument often presented is that these migrants take jobs, depress wages, and alter the character of neighbourhoods. This perspective, while often counter to studies showing that migration can expand the economy over the long term, gains traction because the perceived threat to cultural identity is more immediate and visceral than abstract economic projections. The fear of "cultural dilution" becomes a more potent political force than the demonstrable economic benefits that migrant labour provides, as evidenced by Malaysia's reliance on workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nepal for its vital plantation industries.
The Visibility of Cultural Differences

The core of the issue lies in the visibility of cultural differences. Migrant plants are "invisible as an identity" and do not demand cultural accommodations, such as specific religious holidays or dietary practices. In contrast, migrant people bring with them distinct accents, religious sites like mosques and temples, and visible ethnic diversity, such as different skin tones. This hyper-visibility leads to perceptions that their presence challenges the established national narrative and cultural homogeneity. The "stranger" becomes a focal point for anxieties about national identity, especially when economic conditions create a sense of vulnerability, overriding the historical contributions of past migrant waves to nation-building.
Identity Politics and the Illusion of Indigeneity

The phenomenon is deeply intertwined with identity politics, where national identity is often constructed around an "illusion of indigeneity." Nations create founding myths that emphasize a singular, long-standing connection between the land, the people, and the flag. This narrative often marginalizes or erases the history of earlier migrations and the contributions of subsequent newcomers. Consequently, established migrant flora, like the oil palm, are deemed "native" after a period, while more recent human migrants are still viewed as outsiders. This selective acceptance, driven by a desire to maintain a perceived cultural purity, fuels objections to human migration even when its economic advantages are clear.

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How does economic success from migrant labour become identity politics?

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