Immigrant Integration Research Articles

Migration and linguistic integration: an investigation of Chinese immigrants’ language learning experience before moving to Africa

ABSTRACT The current study investigates the linguistic integration of Chinese immigrants, with a particular focus on their language learning experiences before migrating to Africa. As China’s presence in Africa grows, understanding how Chinese migrants prepare linguistically for their new environments becomes crucial. Through a mixed-methods approach, which include surveys and interviews conducted primarily in Cameroon, the research highlights the value of language skills for successful integration and examines the potential consequences of inadequate language proficiency. The study suggests that both Chinese and African governments should collaborate to encourage Chinese immigrants to learn destination languages even before migrating to Africa. This could be achieved by promoting proactive language acquisition initiatives, reevaluating language policies, and implementing standardised language testing. Emphasising the language learning experience is crucial not only for effective communication but also for reducing stereotypes and fostering deeper understanding and integration between the Chinese expatriate community and local populations. Providing language resources and support can greatly enhance crosscultural interactions and promote the harmonious coexistence of diverse Chinese communities across Africa.

Beyond symbolism: The roles of action planning and case-making in immigrant integration policymaking

Abstract How do city-level policymakers build support for substantive action in policy domains characterized by low levels of national salience and limited local capacity, and which evidentiary resources support as well as reflect these uses? Despite much attention to policymakers’ engagement with evidence, existing work tends to focus on domains where the issues at stake attract high levels of input and influence from central governments. This limits empirical and theoretical understanding of how local efforts to implement potentially contentious policies arise, and through which means. In response, we examine how municipal actors in 12 cities and regions across the UK have devised and communicated policies on immigrant integration—an area that lacks national policy inputs yet is locally consequential—through the mechanism of “action planning.” Drawing on 6 years’ worth of documentary evidence generated through a university-initiated collaboration with these municipalities, we show how action plans gather attention for objectives and propagate examples of practice to other cities—what we call “case-making.” This serves as a micro-foundation for the action planning mechanism, which links symbolic statements about immigrant integration with substantive intended actions.

Immigrants’ acculturation and luxury brand purchase intentions: a cross-sectional study in the Australian context

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of acculturation on immigrant consumer behaviours in their host country. Mainly, the role of acculturation and luxury brand purchasing intentions were investigated.Design/methodology/approachThe research conducted an online survey of 400 Indian sub-continent born immigrants in Australia.FindingsThe findings confirm that the behaviour acculturation dimension of immigrants is significantly negatively related to their luxury brand purchase intention. Although immigrants' overall acculturation is significantly related to the luxury brand purchase intention, their language and identity acculturation have no significant effect, supporting the multidimensional framework’s influence on immigrant consumer behaviour. Immigrants with higher family income, younger age and less academic education show more luxury brand purchase intention; however, no moderating demography was found between the relationship of acculturation and purchase intention. In spite of the limitation of sampling, this study demonstrates that immigrants' level of acculturation influences their luxury brand purchase intention in the host country.Originality/valueThis study aims to help marketers formulate a unified segmentation strategy of purchasing luxury brands based on immigrants' acculturation and sociodemographic stance. This paper highlights the specific needs of ethnic consumers. Incorporating immigrant consumers into the marketplace will help create a homogenised society and more integration of immigrants into the larger society in the host country. Findings shed light on the role of culture change as a crucial element that affects immigrants' luxury brand purchase behaviour considering their integration level into the host country.

Party politics across levels of governance: relational dynamics of immigrant integration policy making in Belgian cities

ABSTRACT Whereas authors have increasingly studied immigrant integration policies across governance levels, little has been done to explore how relations between actors at different levels of governance shape immigrant integration policies. This paper examines how a relational approach can shed light on the role of party politics in shaping immigrant integration policies. We explore whether party (in)congruence between the regional and local levels can explain the convergence or divergence of policy frames in four Belgian towns. Our findings indicate that in Flanders – where migration is highly politicised – party (in)congruence plays a role in explaining the convergence and divergence of immigrant integration policy frames, while in Wallonia – where migration is little politicised – party (in)congruence cannot explain divergent policy frames. We argue that the degree of politicisation of migration might impact the extent to which party (in)congruence can explain the consistency of immigrant integration policy frames across governance levels.

Opportunities for the integration of muslim immigrants in European Union countries

The presence of Muslim immigrants in European Union countries has become an undeniable reality, as these immigrants have become an integral part of the demographic composition of EU societies. The strength of these immigrant communities has increased as a result of the intensification of family reunification policies, which have contributed to reshaping and expanding minorities within the European space. Consequently, questions, concerns, and doubts have arisen about the integration of these immigrants into most national communities. These apprehensions are primarily based on the legal mechanisms required to integrate these minorities into the nation-state, which is founded on citizenship rights in Europe, and on the practical measures that guarantee their integration in an appropriate form and content. On this basis, the adopted integration policies that attempt to reposition Muslims in Europe at the economic, social, and, to some extent, cultural levels raise many concerns about their ability to integrate these Muslim immigrants and about the possible opportunities for their proper integration in light of their cultural, religious, and social specificities. Through this paper, researchers attempt to examine the opportunities for these Muslim immigrants to integrate, considering the legal complexities and social problems they face, which hinder their complete integration into these societies.

Producing white urban Europe? A critical and reflexive reading of academic knowledge production on urban integration of migrants in Western European cities

Abstract In this paper, I review studies of urban integration as analyzed for two groups of mobile newcomers: those designated as “migrants”, that is, mostly marginalized cross-border movers from outside Europe, and mobile EU citizens in Western European cities. This critical and reflexive reading serves to highlight how academic knowledge production on the topic has (re-)produced an image of white urban Europe. While critics of the concept of immigrant integration have suggested that cities and neighborhoods are better sites in which to study migrant integration than the nation-state, the paper demonstrates that studies of urban integration tend to suffer from similar problems, including an ethnonationalist focus and an essentializing of (ethnic) groups. The comparison foregrounds how mobile EU citizens are implicitly thought of as white; their presence in the urban territory is rarely questioned and their practices rarely problematized. In contrast, those designated as migrants are researched with reference to integration, whereby integration means moving closer to white spaces. Thus, studies of the urban integration of migrants use an ethnic framing, while studies of mobile EU citizens focus on class and nationality. The paper thus illuminates how studies of urban integration rely on and reproduce an implicit assumption of whiteness as the norm, even in diverse urban spaces.

Cutting in line ahead of us: the role of group relative deprivation in shaping gatekeeping attitudes across different immigrant integration contexts in Europe

ABSTRACT Although research shows that anti-immigrant sentiments are generally lower in liberal integration policy contexts, popular backlash against immigrants become salient in many pro-immigration and inclusive integration policy contexts in Europe today. Developing a contextualized mediation model, this research suggests that feelings of deprivation vis-à-vis immigrants influence attitudes toward selective immigrant admission in Europe. From a cross-country analysis of the 2014–2015 European Social Survey through multigroup structural equation modeling, our findings reveal that sentiments of group relative deprivation translate into stronger gatekeeping attitudes throughout Europe by developing threat perceptions from immigration. Relative deprivation-driven threat perceptions influence gatekeeping attitudes more potently in countries where integration policies grant immigrants more comprehensive and equal rights, while they remain relatively dormant in countries with exclusionary integration policies. These findings contribute to our understanding of how and to what extent relative deprivation sentiments vis-à-vis immigrants shape gatekeeping attitudes while shedding light on the unintended impacts of liberal integration policies on public opinion regarding immigration.

Unravelling the multi-level governance of Ukrainian refugee reception in Italy: a focus on small and medium-sized cities

ABSTRACT The article suggests a shift in the understanding of the established concepts of battleground, local turn and governance decoupling, all of which have strongly influenced the framework of immigrant integration scholarship. It does so by looking at the puzzle of the reception of Ukrainians in Italy from the perspective of multi-level governance (MLG), which made it possible to identify the activism of small and medium-sized cities in contrast to the inefficiencies of the central government. Previous research has not adequately examined grassroots responses within the MLG framework, leaving a gap in understanding the interplay between local mobilisation and national policies. Despite the (seemingly) cooperative multi-level response to Ukrainian refugees, there have been numerous delays and poor performance in reception, resulting in smaller localities bearing the brunt of the challenges of the refugee influx. This research draws on 40 semi-structured interviews with representatives of third-sector organisations, local authorities and national agencies.

The Toll of Exclusion on Immigrants’ Health across the Life Course: Research Advances and Future Directions

Health is an integral feature of immigration, providing not only insight into population health but also a critical lens into immigrant integration and the power structure in receiving countries. The goal of this article is to chart the trajectory of scholarship on immigrants’ health, focusing on the formative shift away from dominant individualistic perspectives focused on cultural and behavioral explanations toward a profoundly structural understanding of immigrants’ health. Focusing primarily on the US context, we synthesize theoretical and empirical advances in structural perspectives of immigrants’ health. We anchor these advances in the concept of exclusion, detailing how it undergirds structuralist perspectives of immigrants’ health. We review common ways in which exclusion has been measured in the empirical literature on immigrants’ health and highlight recent evidence linking exposure to exclusion to immigrants’ health outcomes across the life course. We conclude by discussing key directions and challenges for future research.

Правовое регулирование деятельности трудовых иммигрантов-корейцев российским императорским правительством в годы Первой мировой войны (на английском)

The article analyzes the conditions of labor migration of ethnic Koreans from Manchuria and China to the Urals of the Russian Empire in 1915—1916, and their experience of interaction with the local Russian authorities. The research is based on the archival materials of the State Archive of the Sverdlovsk region (GASO). This article focuses on the legal and social status of the Korean laborers, their living conditions, habitat, and local conflicts. The study draws on theoretical insights from a range of works on immigration, and the political and economic integration of immigrants. With the onset of World War I, conscription into the Russian Imperial Army drained the manpower reserves, especially in the industries in the Urals. Some industries were under threat of permanent closure. The local tsarist administration petitioned the Foreign Ministry to employ Chinese and Korean laborers in these regions. The results of the research show that the Imperial government did not have a coherent structural plan for the accommodation of Eastern immigrant workers. The government largely improvised, regulating the migration process by issuing various decrees aimed at creating a legal basis for the immigrants. The findings also contradict the earlier Soviet historiography hypothesis about the widespread oppression of ethnic minorities in the Russian Empire. Unlike the Chinese workers who eventually left Russia for Manchuria, the Korean workers chose to stay in Russia after their contractual obligations expired and enjoyed the same rights and privileges as local Russian workers. The research reveals evidence of mistreatment of Korean workers; however, the wrongdoers were local Russian Korean merchants who acted as intermediaries between the local administration and the hired Korean immigrant workers.

Threat mediates the effect of perceived anti-prejudice social norms on adolescents’ preferences for immigrants’ acculturation

Successful integration of immigrants in the receiving society depends on the acceptance of the majority population and their preferences for immigrants’ acculturation orientations. However, political discourse often promotes hostility and feelings of threat from immigration, which contribute to the increased perception of prevalence and acceptability of anti-immigrant attitudes in the society. Such social norms may also shape the acculturation attitudes among the majority youth, as adolescents are particularly sensitive to social norms. Previous research has shown significant effects of parental and peer norms on adolescents’ intergroup attitudes, while there is a lack of studies examining the role of social norms in acculturation preferences. Moreover, the role of perceived norms from broader social environments, such as the normative climate on the national level, is not yet well understood. The study was conducted in Slovakia, where the percentage of immigrants at the time of the research was low, but the topic of immigration was highly politicised. We examined the role of perceived parental, classmates’, and national level anti-prejudice social norms as well as perceived threat in majority adolescents’ (N = 438) preferences towards immigrants’ acculturation. Our findings point to significant associations between adolescents’ perceptions of anti-prejudice norms and their preferences for immigrants’ culture maintenance and preferences for contact. The relationship between perceived norms and acculturation attitudes was mediated by perceived threat, suggesting that, in the context of low intergroup contact, social norms may transmit perceptions of threat, which in turn negatively affect acculturation attitudes.

Opinions of Education Faculty Students About Refugees in Turkey

Migration has been a constant in human history, presenting various economic, social, and cultural challenges. The integration of immigrants into society, particularly in terms of language and education, plays a crucial role in fostering social harmony. While Turkey has made progress in its integration policies, challenges persist, including socio-cultural and economic disparities among refugees. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of education faculty students on the refugee situation in Turkey, revealing insights into foreign policy, sustainability, territorial integrity, and safety concerns. The study was conducted using the qualitative research design of a case study method. 55 teacher candidates participated voluntarily, and their views on refugees living in Turkey were obtained through focus group interviews. Participants emphasized the need for stable foreign policies and highlighted language education as essential for successful integration. They expressed apprehensions about the potential security risks associated with refugees and advocated for greater societal awareness and proactive measures. Ultimately, addressing the refugee issue requires both policy adjustments and heightened societal sensitivity.

Institutional discrimination and assimilation: Evidence from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 marked a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration policy, effectively prohibiting Chinese immigration while institutionalizing discrimination against Asians within American society. This study investigates the repercussions of such institutional discrimination on the assimilation process of Asian immigrants, leveraging the timing of the enactment of the Act and the regional variation in the intensity of discrimination. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that discrimination posed significant obstacles to the labor market integration of Asian immigrants during the Exclusion Era (1882–1943), and Asian immigrants responded to discriminatory practices by investing in human capital, enhancing English proficiency, and adopting Americanized names. Furthermore, the triple-difference estimates reveal that these effects are more pronounced in regions characterized by heightened discrimination against Asians.

Are Cities Doing the Same? Local Policies on Immigrant Integration in Catalonia Since the Great Recession

This article analyzes the extent to which the councils of five Catalan cities have modified their integration policies. The structural transformations of contemporary societies have had a great impact on city councils and local integration policies, especially from the point of view of planning and policy orientation. The article studies the policies developed in five Catalan cities in the last four mandates, specifically between 2007 and 2023, based on in-depth interviews and analysis of political and technical documentation. Although the strategies used in the five cities analyzed are not identical, the results show that during these years there has been a tendency to limit the approval of plans for the integration of immigrants, although this does not mean that the councils do not have explicit political priorities and objectives. The cities also tend to speak less specifically about integration and, on the contrary, resort to two different orientations: some councils design and implement policies related to security, mediation, and community work in neighborhoods, while others tend to broaden the focus of their policies, opting for more holistic approaches focused on multiple forms of diversity, intersectionality, and anti-racism.

A quantitative investigation of immigrants integration and detention in Europe

A quantitative investigation of immigrants integration and detention in Europe

How and why does religion matter for the integration of Muslim minorities? Differentiating religiosity from religious orientations among Turkish Muslims in Germany

ABSTRACT The high level of religiosity of immigrants in general and Muslims in particular is often conceived of as a barrier to integration in European public and scholarly debates. However, existing survey research on the relation between religion and integration was limited to measures of religiosity and has yielded contradictory findings. For a broad range of outcomes spanning the domains of structural, social and cultural integration, there are studies showing positive, negative or no associations with immigrants’ religiosity. Arguing that religious cognitions are independent of religiosity, we examine whether the way immigrants reason about religion explains additional variation in immigrant integration. Drawing on original survey data of Turkish-origin Muslims in Germany (N = 500), we examine how religious literalism, symbolism and theological exclusivism relate to a broad range of integration outcomes (educational attainment, labour market participation, intergroup contact, civic and political participation, volunteering, sense of belonging to Germany and social distance), over and above levels of religiosity. Factor analyses reveal that a symbolic approach to religion (i.e. emphasizing the need to take the historical context into account when interpreting religious texts) is conceptually distinct from literalism and exclusivism and can explain variation beyond religiosity, particularly in the domain of civic integration.

Integration of Afghan Immigrants in Iran: A Multi-Grounded Theory Study

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the integration of Afghan immigrants in Iran. Employing a multi-grounded theory approach, data were collected through fieldwork involving 45 participants. The data underwent analysis using inductive coding, conceptual refinement, the construction of categorical structures, and theory condensation. The analysis yielded 21 categories, which were further organized into 6 overarching categories. These categories encompass conditions of origin, conditions of destination, political factors, social agency, immigrant characteristics, and structural and individual consequences. The findings of this research reveal that the integration of Afghan immigrants in Iran operates as an intricate integration ecosystem. In theories of integration, the significance of individual characteristics and the host society’s background as pivotal factors in immigrant integration is highlighted. In these theories, the interplay between immigrant characteristics and the host society’s context is also recognized as a crucial element in the integration process.

Micro-geographies of administration: a wolf in sheep's clothing? The impact of trust on a street-level approach to immigrant integration

Increased global migration to welfare states puts pressure on successful integration. Successful integration is broadly associated with entry into the labour market. Therefore, integration is measured through employment. Attempts to increase migrant involvement in the labour market are often made by street-level organisations, where interactions between individuals from the private and/or public sector interact with the migrants. At this microlevel, seemingly innocuous administrative decisions made by individuals working to increase migrant labour integration are often overlooked, yet, as this study shows, have a significant impact on the perceived success of such projects. Using nonparticipant observation, chronological ordering and framework analysis, this paper investigates the dynamics of trust as a critical, yet underplayed dimension of the immigrant integration process within a Swedish street-level organisation. The findings reveal instances of immigrant commodification, exploitation of the project format and lack of cultural awareness, which can disrupt the delicate psychosocial relations at play, without ever being appreciated in official reports. Moreover, the impact of trust further impacts on the micro-geographies of immigrants and the integration process. We conclude that whilst the results of integration efforts should be evaluated at the macro level, the fundamentals of integration are set and often decided upon already at the street level

Language Ideologies and Identity Construction in Immigrant Communities

Purpose: This study sought to explore language ideologies and identity construction in immigrant communities. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to language ideologies and identity construction in immigrant communities. Preliminary empirical review revealed that dominant language beliefs significantly impacted how immigrants navigated their identities, often pressuring them to assimilate linguistically at the expense of their native languages and cultures. Immigrants employed various strategies, such as forming ethnic enclaves and participating in cultural events, to maintain their linguistic heritage. The study highlighted the crucial role of educational institutions and inclusive policies in supporting bilingualism and multiculturalism, which were essential for the social integration and identity preservation of immigrants. Ultimately, it emphasized the need for concerted efforts from policymakers, educators, and community organizations to promote linguistic diversity and cultural heritage to enhance the well-being and cohesion of immigrant communities. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Identity Theory, Bourdieu's Theory of Habitus and Cultural Capital and Critical Race Theory may be used to anchor future studies on language ideologies and identity construction in immigrant communities. The study recommended incorporating intersectional approaches into theoretical frameworks to better capture the dynamic nature of identity formation. It advised educators to adopt inclusive pedagogical strategies that value linguistic diversity and suggested training programs to enhance cultural competence. Policy recommendations included implementing bilingual and multilingual education programs, combating linguistic discrimination, and promoting linguistic diversity in public spaces. The study contributed to theory by integrating concepts of linguistic capital into social identity theories, offered practical guidance for supporting immigrant populations, and advocated for systemic policy changes to create a more equitable and inclusive society.

The Intersectional Effects of Race, Gender, and Religion on the Economic Integration of High-skilled Immigrants: a Literature Review

The Intersectional Effects of Race, Gender, and Religion on the Economic Integration of High-skilled Immigrants: a Literature Review