The USA: conservative approaches to the immigration issue: ethnocultural aspect

The article examines four main models that are based on its unique understanding of American identity. The first model represents the concept of a «universal nation», the second model - the concept of a "melting pot"; the third model is based on ethno-cultural roots and claims that American culture is primarily grounded on the key elements of British heritage and Protestantism; the fourth model is also based on ethno-cultural basis, but argues that in contemporary American culture the two equivalent elements - British heritage and the heritage associated with the mass European immigration from Ireland and the countries of Southern and Eastern Europe in the mid and late nineteenth century are clearly seen. The article also considers the approaches of different groups of American conservatives to the issue of immigration. Particular attention is paid to the views and arguments of such immigrationists as J. Kemp and W. Bennett and restrictionists like J. O' Sullivan and P. Brimelow. Based on certain principles, each party offers socio-political strategies and detailed solutions to existing problems. The ethno-cultural and ideological viewpoints serve the basis for this article. Both of them represent substantially different concepts of American identity and nationhood. In this paper it is shown that the modern conservative ideas are becoming significantly more influenced by the civilization approach. Today it has become apparent that the ethno-cultural argument has more flexibility and survivability than it was previously thought. Its supporters blamed the crisis of national identity on the government, pointing out the decline of religion and social responsibility from the elite. The claims about the irreversibility and even lethal effects of immigration on American culture and the future of the country became significantly more popular.