Opening the black box of social innovation in migration governance

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role played by social innovation in challenging exclusion and marginality in relation to migration governance. Drawing on some reflections that have emerged from fieldwork, this contribution proposes an analytical framework that considers four interwoven dimensions: intercultural relations, social infrastructures, discourses and imaginaries and forms of participation. On the basis of these dimensions, social innovation can support and implement creative solutions that bring together civil society actors and local administrators. Although social innovations originate mainly at the level of civil society, we sustain that the study of socially innovative practices can be useful to explore the growing involvement of non-state actors in the governance of migration and their potentialities in terms of collective action.