| An examination of United States attitudes towards non-nationals tends to refute the hypothesis of an historical trend away from an early set of liberal attitudes towards the presently restrictive ones. Rather, United States attitudes have consistently demonstrated a marked ambivalence, depending upon the perceived compatibility of self-images and images held of foreign nations. The importance of resolving this ambivalence in favor of perceived compatibility is underlined by the anomalies contained in contemporary conceptions of nationality. Much of the international economy has become sufficiently interdependent to be regulable in pursuit of policy objectives only if it is treated as a whole, yet exclusive conceptions of nationality--the products of consolidation of political and economic power in the nation-state--tend to prevent national regulation of transactions which take place outside the territorial limits of the state. The resultant breakdown of national economic regulatory systems is mirrored--in political terms--in the appearance of such phenomena as expatriation and statelessness, further indications of the extent to which present conceptions of nationality have proven inadequate.;One of the most striking failures in the United States policies concerning non-nationals is the lack of appreciation by policy makers of the fact that different considerations should influence policies establishing criteria of acceptability for immigrants and non-immigrants. A comparison of the procedures utilized in connection with non-immigrants. A comparison of the procedures utilized in connection with non-immigrants crossing the Canadian and Mexican land borders, as contrasted with those in force at seaports, provides a basis for proposals advocating the liberalization of non-immigrant travel requirements and, in particular, the waiver of visa and passport provisions. The more liberal procedures in force along land borders also provide an empirical basis in terms of which arguments opposing such a liberalization may effectively be assessed. Even in the absence of the legislative action which would be required to waive visa and passport requirements, furthermore, several important measures can be taken by the Executive to liberalize the present administration of the governing statutes. Finally, by means of an examination of the concept of nationality operative in such institutions as the British Commonwealth of Nations, an attempt is made to suggest methods by which present conceptions of United States nationality could be expanded. |
