Using a unique analytical framework based on host–stranger relations, this book explores the response of cities to the arrival and settlement of labour immigrants. Comparing the local policies of four cities – Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Tel Aviv – Michael Alexander charts the development of migrant policies over time and situates them within the broader social context.

Grounded in multi-city, multi-domain empirical findings, the work provides a fuller understanding of the interaction between cities and their migrant populations. Filling a gap in existing literature on migrant policy between national-level theorizing and local-level study, the book will provide an important basis for future research in the area.