Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Whole-COMM (Exploring the Integration of Post-2014 Migrants in Small and Medium-sized Towns and Rural Areas from a Whole of Community Perspective)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-04-01 do 2024-06-30
Whole-COMM has proposed an innovative Whole-of-Community (WoC) approach to the analysis of the integration of post-2014 migrants in small and medium-sized towns and rural areas (SMsTRA), in 8 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden) and 2 extra-EU countries (Turkey and Canada).
In the context of the ‘European migration and refugee crisis’, between 2014 and 2015 SMsTRA in Europe have been confronted with increasing arrivals of migrants from areas of political and humanitarian crisis either spontaneously or through the operating of national redistribution policies. In this context, local communities which had been only marginally (if at all) affected by the settlement of migrants seeking asylum, are being confronted with new challenges, often adding to already complex situations characterised by austerity policies, diminishing social cohesion and political polarization. Understanding what shapes, affects or enables the integration of post-2014 migrants in SMsTRA is more crucial than ever if policies are, in the spirit of the Urban Agenda for the EU, ‘to manage integration of incoming migrants (extra-EU) and to provide a framework for their inclusion based on willingness and integration capacity of local communities’ (Pact of Amsterdam, iii)
By focusing on SMsTRA, Whole-COMM has contributed to filling a serious gap in existing research and policy debates focused only on large cities, aiming at:
• scientific goals: to deepen empirical knowledge and to advance theoretical thinking on how policies can influence migrant integration pathways in small-to-medium-sized realities.
• social-political intervention goals: to energize policy debates and spark innovation in SMsTRA for building more cohesive and resilient communities that can proactively embrace change, getting the most out of each and every one.
In the context of the ‘European migration and refugee crisis’, between 2014 and 2015 SMsTRA in Europe have been confronted with increasing arrivals of migrants from areas of political and humanitarian crisis either spontaneously or through the operating of national redistribution policies. In this context, local communities which had been only marginally (if at all) affected by the settlement of migrants seeking asylum, are being confronted with new challenges, often adding to already complex situations characterised by austerity policies, diminishing social cohesion and political polarization. Understanding what shapes, affects or enables the integration of post-2014 migrants in SMsTRA is more crucial than ever if policies are, in the spirit of the Urban Agenda for the EU, ‘to manage integration of incoming migrants (extra-EU) and to provide a framework for their inclusion based on willingness and integration capacity of local communities’ (Pact of Amsterdam, iii)
By focusing on SMsTRA, Whole-COMM has contributed to filling a serious gap in existing research and policy debates focused only on large cities, aiming at:
• scientific goals: to deepen empirical knowledge and to advance theoretical thinking on how policies can influence migrant integration pathways in small-to-medium-sized realities.
• social-political intervention goals: to energize policy debates and spark innovation in SMsTRA for building more cohesive and resilient communities that can proactively embrace change, getting the most out of each and every one.
In terms of data, Whole-COMM has collected extensive data on migrant integration policies and social cohesion in a sample of 46 localities (rigorously selected through a theory-driven case-selection strategy) across 10 countries. Fieldwork in these localities has been carried out in subsequent stages. First, to study integration policies, governance and their drivers, and local practices and structures of support for migrant integration we conducted desk-based research and in-depth analysis of policy documents, we collected 598 interviews with actors involved in local integration governance, and 371 surveys filled in by the same interviewees to reconstruct actors’ relations. Second, to study social interactions between local residents and newly arrived refugees and migrants’ experiences of integration we conducted participant observation, focus groups with both migrants and local residents, and 329 interviews with refugees. Third, to study public attitudes to migrant integration in small localities, we developed a large-N survey with local residents living in both cities and small localities in Austria, Germany, Italy and Sweden.
As to the project outputs, we produced different types of documents targeting different types of audience:
i. policy community: Whole-COMM released 5 policy briefs with detailed policy recommendations on local integration policy. We also designed a toolbox for local policymakers who are willing to develop inclusive policies on migrant integration. We also designed an intervention (‘walking tours’ on changes in local communities) – potentially replicable across the different countries and towns – aimed to foster positive social relations and interactions between long-term residents and migrants and we tested it in four localities.
ii. academic community: Whole-COMM has published 29 country reports, 4 comparative reports, and an inventory on available statistical data related to immigrant integration in small localities. In addition, Whole-COMM researchers have published 8 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious academic journals (13 additional articles are currently under review), and 5 book chapters. Four special issues linked to the project are forthcoming in academic journals.
iii. wider public: Whole-COMM has published 32 blog posts, 7 videos about migrant integration in local communities and 3 infographics summarizing its key results.
Finally, Whole-COMM has developed extensive dissemination and communication activities. Activities targeting the policy community have aimed to disseminate the projects’ key policy recommendations in local communities and among key EU policy actors. We convened a Policy Community Lab in Florence and a Working group workshop in Brussels which both brought together stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector, and a Transatlantic Community Lab in Toronto with European and North American scholars and policymakers. We also conducted local workshops engaging local stakeholders and participated in several policy events at the EU level. Whole-COMM's Final Conference was organized in Brussels in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions. As to the scientific community, Whole-COMM researchers organized special sessions and workshops, and gave presentations, in several academic conferences.
As to the project outputs, we produced different types of documents targeting different types of audience:
i. policy community: Whole-COMM released 5 policy briefs with detailed policy recommendations on local integration policy. We also designed a toolbox for local policymakers who are willing to develop inclusive policies on migrant integration. We also designed an intervention (‘walking tours’ on changes in local communities) – potentially replicable across the different countries and towns – aimed to foster positive social relations and interactions between long-term residents and migrants and we tested it in four localities.
ii. academic community: Whole-COMM has published 29 country reports, 4 comparative reports, and an inventory on available statistical data related to immigrant integration in small localities. In addition, Whole-COMM researchers have published 8 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious academic journals (13 additional articles are currently under review), and 5 book chapters. Four special issues linked to the project are forthcoming in academic journals.
iii. wider public: Whole-COMM has published 32 blog posts, 7 videos about migrant integration in local communities and 3 infographics summarizing its key results.
Finally, Whole-COMM has developed extensive dissemination and communication activities. Activities targeting the policy community have aimed to disseminate the projects’ key policy recommendations in local communities and among key EU policy actors. We convened a Policy Community Lab in Florence and a Working group workshop in Brussels which both brought together stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector, and a Transatlantic Community Lab in Toronto with European and North American scholars and policymakers. We also conducted local workshops engaging local stakeholders and participated in several policy events at the EU level. Whole-COMM's Final Conference was organized in Brussels in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions. As to the scientific community, Whole-COMM researchers organized special sessions and workshops, and gave presentations, in several academic conferences.
Whole-COMM has delivered beyond the state of the art in 3 main respects:
1) In terms of theoretical innovation, Whole-COMM has stimulated a wide reflection on established concepts and theories regarding migrants’ integration in small localities. In this respect, the first Whole-COMM Working Paper already systematized existing literature while at the same time proposing an innovative case-selection strategy based on a typology of localities that takes into account structural (economic and demographic trends) and socio-cultural and political variables. Building on these footsteps, WP2 continued to work as a laboratory for theoretical innovation. The Final Working paper summarises the key scientific findings and the most relevant theoretical contributions in terms of the analysis of policymaking processes and governance relations, local policies and structures of support, interactions between local residents and newly arrived refugees, public attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers in big cities and small localities.
2) In terms of methodological innovation, Whole-COMM proposed a novel multi-methods approach, where research results generated through different methods speak to each other. By conceptualising integration as a WoC process, Whole-COMM has contributed to a breaking of methodological barriers and to a bridging across different quantitative and qualitative methodological traditions. The key publications of the project reflect such a goal, combining multiple methods like qualitative documents analysis and interviewing with an online survey aimed at reconstructing policymakers and stakeholders’ relations on post-2014 migrants' integration policy.
3) In terms of policy practice, Whole-COMM had the objective of going beyond research-policy dialogues and push them forwards to promote the co-creation of specific, community-tailored policy actions. Whole-COMM has directly engaged stakeholders in local communities through a series of online meetings organised by the project partners in the different countries. Whole-COMM has also aimed to improve practices, as pointed out by the experience of the ‘walking tours’ (see above), and has engaged with policymakers at different local, national and EU levels.
1) In terms of theoretical innovation, Whole-COMM has stimulated a wide reflection on established concepts and theories regarding migrants’ integration in small localities. In this respect, the first Whole-COMM Working Paper already systematized existing literature while at the same time proposing an innovative case-selection strategy based on a typology of localities that takes into account structural (economic and demographic trends) and socio-cultural and political variables. Building on these footsteps, WP2 continued to work as a laboratory for theoretical innovation. The Final Working paper summarises the key scientific findings and the most relevant theoretical contributions in terms of the analysis of policymaking processes and governance relations, local policies and structures of support, interactions between local residents and newly arrived refugees, public attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers in big cities and small localities.
2) In terms of methodological innovation, Whole-COMM proposed a novel multi-methods approach, where research results generated through different methods speak to each other. By conceptualising integration as a WoC process, Whole-COMM has contributed to a breaking of methodological barriers and to a bridging across different quantitative and qualitative methodological traditions. The key publications of the project reflect such a goal, combining multiple methods like qualitative documents analysis and interviewing with an online survey aimed at reconstructing policymakers and stakeholders’ relations on post-2014 migrants' integration policy.
3) In terms of policy practice, Whole-COMM had the objective of going beyond research-policy dialogues and push them forwards to promote the co-creation of specific, community-tailored policy actions. Whole-COMM has directly engaged stakeholders in local communities through a series of online meetings organised by the project partners in the different countries. Whole-COMM has also aimed to improve practices, as pointed out by the experience of the ‘walking tours’ (see above), and has engaged with policymakers at different local, national and EU levels.