2. Integration, Social Cohesion and Transnationalism

The transformation of societies in part as a result of immigration have given integration issues a considerable space in the public debate.   At the same time, empirical research and theories that aim to explain immigrants´ integration processes have evolved tremendously. Today, it is highly accepted that immigrants´ integration processes are a multidimensional (touching on social, economic, political and cultural life domains). More and more researchers apply an interdisciplinary approach (e.g. economics, political science, social-psychology, cultural anthropology) and bring different dimensions (legal, economic, sociocultural, and political and identity) of the phenomenon together in their research. Quantitative and qualitative comparative international research in the field has allowed for a better understanding of the settlement processes of immigrants over time (cohort and cross-generation studies) at different levels (e.g. city, region, country). Moreover, with the connection of transnational migration theory to integration debates, integration processes are not anymore limited to the national boundaries of the destination country. Within the research theme, we emphasize the fact that migrants’ experiences in the destination country are intertwined with their relationships with friends and family in their origin country and other localities, their wishes for their homeland and their local culture, traditions and values. Consequently, this research theme seeks to bring integration and social cohesion research and policy making a step further by applying a holistic approach that embraces the new realities and dynamics of immigrant lives that potentially take place within multi-sited multi-layered transnational social fields that simultaneously encompass migrants and non-migrants, both sending and receiving communities as well as other connected communities or organisations.

Contact: Melissa Siegel

  • Related publications

    Fajth, Veronika, Özge Bilgili, Craig Loschmann & Melissa Siegel, 2019, `How do refugees affect social life in host communities? The case of Congolese refugees in Rwanda, Comparative Migration Studies, 7, More information
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    Bilgili, Özge, Craig Loschmann, Sonja Fransen & Melissa Siegel, 2018, `Is the education of local children influenced by living nearby a refugee camp? Evidence from host communities in Rwanda, International Migration, 57, More information
    Schewel, K. & Sonja Fransen, 2018, `Formal education and Migration Aspirations in Ethiopia, Population and Development Review, 44
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    Volante, Louis, Don A. Klinger, Melissa Siegel & Özge Bilgili, 2017, `Immigrant youth help to build nations, The Conversation, More information
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    Bilgili, Özge, Thomas Huddleston & Anne-Linde Joki, 2015, The Dynamics between Integration Policies and Outcomes: a Synthesis of the Literature, This paper has been published in the framework of the project 'Integration Policies: Who benefits? The development and use of indicators in integration debates', directed by the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs and the Migration Policy Group, More information
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    Ong, Cheng Boon, 2014, Tipping points? Ethnic composition change in Dutch big city neighbourhoods, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2014-011
    Ong, Cheng Boon & Kristof de Witte, 2014, School choice, segregation, and forced school closure, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2014-008
    Juzwiak, Teressa, Elaine McGregor & Melissa Siegel, 2014, Migrant and refugee integration in global cities: The role of cities and businesses, Commissioned by The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP), More information
    Engbersen, G. , L. Bakker, M. B. Erdal & Özge Bilgili, 2014, `Transnationalism in a Comparative Perspective, Comparative Migration Studies, 2, More information
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    Bilgili, Özge, 2014, Simultaneity in transnational migration research: Links between migrants' host and home country orientation, PhD dissertation Maastricht University / United Nations University, More information
    Juzwiak, Teressa, Elaine McGregor, Melissa Siegel & Howard Hudson (eds.), 2014, Migrant and Refugee Integration in Global Cities: The Role of Cities and Businesses, This policy brief considers how businesses and governments in global cities contribute to the integration of migrant and refugee populations, either through outreach, specialized programmes, the provision of services, or targeted funding of non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and to what extent these contributions can be deepened or expanded, More information
    Juzwiak, Teressa, 2014, São Paulo, Brazil, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Juzwiak, Teressa, 2014, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Sturge, Georgina, 2014, Nairobi, Kenya, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Juzwiak, Teressa, Elaine McGregor & Melissa Siegel, 2014, Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Juzwiak, Teressa, 2014, Lisbon, Portugal, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    McGregor, Elaine, 2014, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Lunn, Rebecca & Levi Vonk, 2014, Chicago, United States, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Juzwiak, Teressa, 2014, Buenos Aires, Argentina, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Sturge, Georgina, 2014, Auckland, New Zealand, a case study from: Migrant and refugee integration in global cities - the role of cities and businesses, The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)
    Dekker, Bram & Melissa Siegel, 2013, Transnationalism and integration: Complements or Substitutes?, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2013-071
    Cebotari, Victor & M. Vink, 2013, `A Configurational Comparative Analysis of Ethnic Protest in Europe, International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 54
    Haas, Hein de & T. Fokkema, 2013, Transnational return and pendulum migration strategies of Moroccan migrants: Intra-household power inequalities, tensions and conflicts of interest, in: L. Oso and N. Ribas, The International Handbook on Gender, Migration and Transnationalism: Global and Development PerspectivesThe International Handbook on Gender, Migration and Transnationalism: Global and Development Perspectives, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK
    Chattopadhyay, Sutapa, 2013, Who are these Scoundrels??? questioning legality, precarity and inclusion, RCIS Conference “Immigration and Settlement: Precarious Futures?” Ryerson University, Canada
    Siegel, Melissa & Chris de Neubourg, 2011, A historical perspective on immigration and social protection in the Netherlands, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2011-014
    Cebotari, Victor, 2011, Confronting Religion with National Pride Values: Comparative Evidences from Eastern and Western Europe, in: András Máté-Tóth and Cosima Rughiniş (Eds.), Spaces and Borders. Current Research on Religion in Central and Eastern Europe, De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston
    Cebotari, Victor, 2010, Protesting Ethnic Minorities in Europe: A Fuzzy-Set Analysis, COMPASSS Working Papers 57
    Cebotari, Victor, 2010, The Conflicting Path of Ethnic Diversity. Protesting Minorities in Europe, in: Emma Lantschner, Katherine Nobbs (eds.), the European Yearbook of Minority Issues, Brill, Leiden, the Netherlands
    Cebotari, Victor, 2010, Conflicting Demands in Ethnically Diverse Societies: Ethnopolitical Contention and Identity Values in Europe, MGSoG Dissertation Series, More information
    Cebotari, Victor, 2005, Poverty Dynamics for Immigrants versus Natives. Comparative Approach between France, Denmark and Ireland, MA Dissertation, CEPS/INSTEAD, Luxembourg
    Cebotari, Victor, 2005, Gateway to a New Modernity: Ruling Elites between Past, Present and Future. The Moldavian Case, in: Rusu H., and Voicu B. (eds.), European Integration from East to East. Civil Society and Ethnic Minorities in a Changing World, Psihomedia Publishing House, Sibiu, Romania
    Cebotari, Victor, 2005, Poverty within Europe’s Border and beyond, in: Rusu H. & Voicu, B (eds.), Perspective on the European Post communist Societies, Pshihomedia Publishing House, Sibiu
    Cebotari, Victor, 2003, The Transdniestrian Conflict: Strategies, Interests and Ways of Settlement, Paper Series of Conflict Prevention Studies Centre No. 3, Bucharest

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