Abstract
This article offers a theoretical discussion on the role of informal institutions in the integration process of immigrants to a new country. Previous research on how immigrants become integrated and assimilated into the host countries demonstrates that integration/assimilation takes long time, often occurring over several generations; formal institutions matter; such theories are good at explaining how integration takes place, but not why integration/assimilation fails or succeeds. The informal institutions of both immigrants and native populations are examined. The discussion is based upon institutional theory in economics and political science. The findings suggest that informal institutions can explain why integration take place, and why some nationalities integrate into a new country, while others do not.
Highlights
This article offers a theoretical discussion on the role of informal institutions in the integration process of immigrants to a new country
Despite offering knowledge on what influence informal institutions have on society and policy making, research tends to focus on formal institutions when it comes to examining the integration of immigrants (Martone et al 2014; Oswald 2007; Heckmann and Bosswick 2006; Kogan 2007; Huber 2014; OECD 2006; Hansen 2012)
A first example can be made from a situation where both the nationality of the immigrant and host country is based upon ethnicity, religion and history
Summary
How the immigrant and the host society perceives ‘nationality’ is a key to understanding why the integration process is sometimes successful and sometimes fails. A first example can be made from a situation where both the nationality of the immigrant and host country is based upon ethnicity, religion and history. The conclusion of this first example is that when the nationality of the immigrant and the host country is based upon ethnicity, religion and history, integration will fail. A second example can be made from a situation where the nationality of the host country is based upon ethnicity, religion and history and the one of the immigrant upon language and socialisation. The immigrant is willing to learn the language to become a member of the new community and access the rights and duties of the host country This will lead to a socialisation process into the host country, but it will not lead to an assimilation. ‘It takes two to tango’, and depending on whether and how the host country and the immigrants want to dance, the results of integration will differ
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