Canadian and Australian Immigration Policy Trends: An Institutional Isomorphic Comparative Historical Analysis

Abstract

This comparative analysis examines the historical trajectories and contemporary trends of immigration policies in Canada and Australia, elucidating the enduring influence of past practices on current frameworks. Focusing on the pre-1960s through post-2000s eras, the study reveals how both nations’ migration policies have shifted from racially based to skills-based approaches, with a recent emphasis on language proficiency as a key selection criterion. Drawing on institutional isomorphism theory, the study argues that Canada and Australia exhibit normative and mimetic isomorphic processes, reflecting cultural values and mutual learning in policy development. It contends that these isomorphic practices are rooted in colonial legacies and may perpetuate historical hierarchies. Through an analysis of key events and occurrences, the study highlights the convergence of legal and regulatory regimes between the two nations, characterizing it as colonial isomorphism. This comprehensive examination provides insights into the sociocultural and historical factors shaping immigration policies, showing that migration policies in different nations appear to follow normative, coercive and mimetic isomorphic processes.