Conclusion: Getting Back on the Track of Nation-Building

Abstract

This chapter is the concluding chapter of this book and focuses on theoretical insights into how the medium- to long-term socio-economic and socio-political consequences of the merit-based migration system could be better analysed and what practical lessons may be drawn from Australia’s current debate over China’s interference in its domestic politics. This is discussed in three sections. The first section summarises what has been analysed in earlier chapters, while emphasising the importance of the historical political-economic approach to issues resulting from merit-based immigration policies. The second section considers a few theoretical issues based on discussions in earlier chapters. The third section looks at practical implications of this study, calling attention to the importance of positioning future debates in the context of Australia’s nation-building process.