European Immigration and Xenophobia

Exhibit Overview

The politics and events of the 1970s are often overlooked as simply a response to the turbulent decade that preceded it. While this is true in some respects, the 70s were a whirlwind of worldwide integration and economic change. Europe specifically, was at the heart of these developments. Decades removed from World War II, western European countries had largely been rebuilt — with the help of the United States and continental cooperation — and regained some of their former authority. In the 70s though, amidst globalization, economic challenges such as the 1973-74 oil crisis, and decolonization, the very same processes that helped European nations recover from WWII began to break down. One of these processes was immigration. This digital exhibit examines the role immigration played in rebuilding Europe and why the events of 70s elicited a xenophobic backlash that can still be observed today.