Socio-economic Integration Research Articles

OMKAR L. SHRESTHA and AEKAPOL CHONGVILAIVAN, eds. Greater Mekong Subregion: From Geographical to Socio-economic Integration. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing, 2013, xvi+270p.

Greater Mekong Subregion: From Geographical to Socio-economic Integration OMKAR L. SHRESTHA and AEKAPOL CHONGVILAIVAN, eds. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing, 2013, xvi+270p.The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), arguably the most glittering development opportunity in Asia, is steadily attracting an international audience. After a period of mistrust and instability, the subregion has been the stage for a number of successful development stories as well as a few failures. When peace prevailed over the conflicts that divided its peoples, an unprecedented wave of regionalizing efforts in the entire area enticed many foreign institutions into investing in the development of the GMS. Given the peculiar situation characterizing most of the bloc's countries, the first priority was that of upgrading the existing infrastructure and building new links in order to improve the spatial connectivity of the subregion. In other words, priority was given to geo- graphical integration through the abatement of physical barriers.With this book, a collection of selected papers presented at the eponymous conference organ- ized by ISEAS in Singapore in 2010, the editors attempted to present the events that have charac- terized the development of the GMS during the last two decades, with an overarching focus on the transition from geographical to socio-economic integration that the subregion is undergoing. The book is divided into two parts: the first is country-specific and aims to discuss some of the emerg- ing issues from a national perspective (chapters 2-7); the second is thematic and each chapter aims to look at single issues from a subregional perspective (chapters 8-12).Larry Strange (chapter 2) provides the reader with a very simple, yet exhaustive and persua- sive description of the events that have characterized Cambodia's development over the last few decades. The analysis of the new development paradigm after 1998 and of the response subsequent to the 2008-9 global economic crisis is very accurate, and praises the timeliness and the appropri- ateness of the government's policies during this period. Unfortunately, the author fails to acknowl- edge some systemic flaws that hinder a more thorough incorporation of Cambodia into the GMS scheme, while giving too much attention to Cambodia's relation with ASEAN, China, and the rest of the world. Cambodia's strength in the GMS is weighed mainly in terms of its advantageous geopolitical location, which might produce economic benefits in the future. While remaining chal- lenges and weaknesses are acknowledged, the conclusion is indeed not conclusive, as it does not properly consider the GMS context. It simplistically states that the country's future lies in exiting the vicious circle of aid-dependency and in graduating from LDC-status (Least Developed Country) in order to eventually distribute more equitably the national wealth.Oudet Souvannavong (chapter 3) provides a good overview of recent development indicators in Lao PDR, although almost all of them are macroeconomic. Too much attention is given to government policies, and the author fails to explain with concrete cases how such governmental intentions are implemented on the ground, nor what people's reactions to them are. Policy sug- gestions presented within the chapter are simplistic, and the tables shown lack units and could be clearer. However, the overall image of the country in the GMS context is very clear and objectively drawn: inadequate education, weak exports, unfriendly business environment, corruption, poor infrastructure, low population density, urban-rural divide, and the omnipresent lack of the rule of law are arguably the biggest obstacles hindering a more constructive participation of the country in development programs. The author also clearly identifies the country's strengths, such as the huge hydropower potential and a young population, and provides very down-to-earth policy sug- gestions on cross-border customs operations and the transit system, specific infrastructural proj- ects, special economic zones, electricity for domestic consumption, a national rail grid to transport raw materials, smart agriculture (i. …

Reflections on the emancipatory potential of vocational education and training practices: Freire and Rancière in dialogue

This paper focuses on the issue of emancipation in education practices in general and in vocational education and training (VET) in particular. The principal aim is to contribute to the discussion of particular traditions of emancipation in education in connection with VET practices. The exploration of ongoing educational debates on VET policy-making and the issue of emancipation in VET reveals that, ultimately, emancipation in VET is understood as a specific function for socio-economic integration. The paper discusses this functionalist orientation and contrasts it with a vision on emancipation as a feature of an educational process rather than an educational outcome. Freire's and Rancière's core concepts of emancipation guide the discussion regarding the latter interpretation of emancipation in VET practices.

Depression in Europe: does migrant integration have mental health payoffs? A cross-national comparison of 20 European countries

Objectives. Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability. As migrants form an increasing group in Europe, already making up about 8.7% of the population in 2010, knowledge on migrant-related inequalities in depression is of main public health interest. In this study, we first assess whether migrants in Europe are at higher risk for depression compared to the native population. Second, we assess whether the association between migration and depression is dependent on different forms of migrant integration. Migrant integration is looked at both from the individual and from the national level.Design. Hierarchical linear regression analyses based on data for 20 countries in the European Social Survey 2006/2007 (N = 37,076 individuals aged 15 or more). Depression is measured using the center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale. We consider migrant integration over time (first- and second-generation migrants, differentiated according to European Union (EU) or non-EU origin), barriers to integration (low educational level, financial difficulties, being out of the labor market, ethnic minority status, discrimination), and the host country environment (national migrant integration policy). Controls are gender, age, partner relationship, social support, and welfare state regime.Results. Natives and second-generation migrants do not differ significantly in their risk profile for depression. First-generation migrants show higher levels of depression, with those born outside of Europe to be the worst off. This higher risk for depression is not attributable to ethnic minority status but is mainly due to experienced barriers to socioeconomic integration and processes of discrimination. A country's national policy on migrant integration shows not to soften the depressing effect of being a first-generation migrant nor does it have indirect beneficial health effects by reducing barriers to integration.Conclusion. In Europe, first-generation EU and non-EU migrants experience higher levels of depression. Second-generation migrants and natives show similar risk profiles.

Immigration, segregation and social cohesion: is the ‘German model’ fraying at the edges?

In this article, we analyse immigrant integration against the background of German society’s social cohesion. First, we examine the integration process and policies with regard to the integration of first-generation labour migrants into the German ‘national society’ since the 1960s. Even though these ‘guest workers’ were confronted to ethnic and political exclusion owing to the so-called German integration model, they experienced socio-economic integration and, at the local level, some form of political participation. Secondly, we analyse the policies and the integration process of immigrant youth, specifically those of Turkish descent, into contemporary German society, the social cohesion of which is impeded by social exclusion and urban segregation. Our hypothesis is that – in spite of a long-standing refusal to recognise itself as an immigration country – Germany has to some extent incorporated its migrants and achieved an integration consensus, while paradoxically, national integration models in several other Western European countries are currently going through a deep crisis.

Развитие политики социально-экономической и социокультурной интеграции мигрантов в Российской Федерации

Развитие политики социально-экономической и социокультурной интеграции мигрантов в Российской Федерации

The Immigration and Integration Debate in the Netherlands: Discursive and Programmatic Reactions to the Rise of Anti-Immigration Parties

Immigration and integration issues have become increasingly important in West European politics, partly as a consequence of the rise of anti-immigration parties. This article investigates how immigration and integration issues have become politicised in the Netherlands since the beginning of the 1990s, what role anti-immigration parties have played in this process and the extent to which party positions on these issues are structured by a left-right dimension. It examines changes in debates about immigration and integration issues by means of a content analysis of party programmes, measuring changes in frames, positions and salience. It concludes that (1) immigration and integration issues have been given more attention by parties since the early 1990s, (2) parties have replaced their discourse of socio-economic integration by a discourse of cultural integration and (3) parties have adopted a monoculturalist instead of a multiculturalist position in the immigration and integration debate. However, despite these changes to the immigration and integration debate, it remains structured by a left–right divide, with left-wing parties being in favour of more lenient, multiculturalist policies and right-wing parties being in favour of more restrictive, monoculturalist policies. Furthermore, the article demonstrates that many of the changes were already set in motion by mainstream parties prior to the successful electoral breakthrough of anti-immigration parties.

Socio-Economic Dimensions of the Integration of the Formerly Deported Peoples in Crimea

The present study examines the view different groups of Formerly Deported Peoples (FDPs) take of how well and how completely their socioeconomic needs have been fulfilled since their return to Crimea. The following FDP categories and geographic locations were selected for focus groups: • Crimean Tatars in Simferopol; • Crimean Tatars from the squatter settlements near Simferopol; • Crimean Tatars in a rural steppes rayon (Nizhnegorsk); • Greeks in Chernopolye village (Belogorsk district); • Bulgarians in Koktebel’. The following spheres of socio-economic integration were assessed in each focus group: • employment and education; • housing; • health care. In each sphere the following aspects of the socioeconomic integration process were explored: • general needs of FDPs with regard to the socioeconomic integration/adaptation and specific needs of the sub-categories within FDP groups; • assessment of respondents’ own group’s situation compared with that of other groups, including other groups of FDPs, and perceptions of intragroup inequalities; • expectations of privileged treatment ‑ how perceived and apportioned amongst FDPs; • performance of relevant State institutions (national, Republican, most notably the Republican Committee on Inter-ethnic Relations and Deported Citizens [Reskomnats], and local) as well as the FDPs’ representative (informal) institutions and actors (the Milli Mejlis and local mejlises, ethnocultural organizations and prominent individuals) as regarded by different FDP constituencies; • individual and collective strategies to cope with socio-economic challenges, including how to achieve equality in socio-economic rights.

Multiculturalism and Immigration: A Contested Field in Cross-National Comparison

This article reviews cross-national research on multicultural policies in relation to immigrants in the main European and Anglo-Saxon immigrant-receiving countries. It compares the policies themselves and reviews studies that evaluate their outcomes. The size of immigrant populations as well as their composition in terms of countries of origin, religion, and human capital are key to understanding why multiculturalism has fallen further from grace in Europe than in the classical immigrant-receiving countries of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, religious rights are identified as the main source of controversy regarding multicultural rights; that Muslims make up a larger proportion of immigrants to Europe explains in part the more critical evaluation that multicultural policies receive there. The reviewed studies reveal a mixed picture regarding outcomes of multicultural policies, with little effect on socioeconomic integration, some positive effects on political integration, and negative impacts on sociocultural integration.

The Importance of Resources and Security in the Socio-Economic Integration of Refugees. A Study on the Impact of Length of Stay in Asylum Accommodation and Residence Status on Socio-Economic Integration for the Four Largest Refugee Groups in the Netherlands

In many European countries, including the Netherlands, refugees stay in asylum accommodation pending a decision on their asylum request. While it seems evident that the lack of resources and insecurity about the future experienced during this stay will impact refugees’ subsequent ability to integrate with the host society, so far this has hardly been studied in an extensive way. Also, the type of residence status granted can be a source of insecurity that impacts their integration. Previous studies on refugee integration have already shown the impact of pre-migration stressors such as traumatic experiences on mental health and integration. In this study, we use a large-scale dataset containing detailed information on about 4,000 refugees to show that also post-migration stressors affect mental health and hinder the socio-economic integration of the four largest refugee groups in the Netherlands: Afghan, Iraqi, Iranian and Somali.

Aspects of European Socio-economic Integration: Labour Conditions in Greece

The current crisis in Greece, a European Union member for over 30 years, has brought to the surface the character of the Greek politico-administrative system as it handles employment, migration and associated forms of social protection. The employment relationship seems to be embedded within a bifurcated system of labour whereby the employment relationship is secure only in the public sector while the private sector is controlled by a precarious system of labour security, a separate health system and with its own political organisation. The lack of a unified national labour system does not allow the formation of a national system of employment (qualifications) and, hence, a way to overcome nepotism and the political (party) patronage system which defines, in a determining way, labour relations. This division is maintained by the politico-administrative labour regime put in place, under the extra-ordinary political situation that emerged after World War II. The paper explores this hidden reality defining the organisation of the employment system in Greece, its politico-administrative controls that seem to aim at ‘arresting’ the emergence of a social economy. This leads to a hidden social economy of a fragmented private labour market, which is regulated separately from the secure “public” employment sector. This rather anachronistic and discriminatory system of political order of labour divides workers in Greece.

Ecohydrological and socioeconomic integration for the operational management of environmental flows

Investment in and operation of flow control infrastructure such as dams, weirs, and regulators can help increase both the health of regulated river ecosystems and the social values derived from them. This requires high-quality and high-resolution spatiotemporal ecohydrological and socioeconomic information. We developed such an information base for integrated environmental flow management in the River Murray in South Australia (SA). A hydrological model was used to identify spatiotemporal inundation dynamics. River ecosystems were classified and mapped as ecohydrological units. Ecological response models were developed to link three aspects of environmental flows (flood duration, timing, and inter-flood period) to the health responses of 16 ecological components at various life stages. Potential infrastructure investments (flow control regulators and irrigation pump relocation) were located by interpreting LiDAR elevation data, digital orthophotography, and wetland mapping information; and infrastructure costs were quantified using engineering cost models. Social values were quantified at a coarse scale as total economic value based on a national survey of willingness-to-pay for four key ecological assets; and at a local scale using mapped ecosystem service values. This information was integrated using a constrained, nonlinear, mixed-integer, compromise programming optimization model and solved using a stochastic Tabu search algorithm. We tested the model uncertainty and sensitivity using 390 Monte Carlo model runs at varying weights of ecological health vs. social values. Integrating ecohydrological and socioeconomic information identified environmental flow management regimes that efficiently achieved both ecological and social objectives. Using an ecologically weighted efficient and socially weighted efficient scenario, we illustrated model outputs including a suite of cost-effective infrastructure investments and an operational plan for new and existing flow control structures including dam releases, weir height manipulation, and regulator operation on a monthly time step. Both the investments and management regimes differed substantially between the two scenarios, suggesting that the choice of weightings on ecological and social objectives is important. This demonstrates the benefit of integrating high-quality and high-resolution spatiotemporal ecohydrological and socioeconomic information for guiding the investment in and operational management of environmental flows.

Social Exclusion and Young Rural-Urban Migrants’ Integration into a Host Society in China

This article explores correlates of the socioeconomic integration of young rural-urban migrants in a host society in China. Using a new typology that distinguishes hukou (household registration system), migration status, and age, multilevel modeling results indicate that young rural-urban migrants achieve a lower socioeconomic status than local youths and urban-urban migratory youths. This challenges the notion that marketization necessarily promotes rights and legal equality in a linear fashion and suggests that the potentially positive impact of migration on personal development might be compromised by institutional constraints (e.g., hukou) that exclude migrants from rural areas, as well as other outsiders, particularly youths.

The Socio-economic Integration Effects of Social Co-operatives

The Socio-economic Integration Effects of Social Co-operatives

Modelling and Forecasting Vehicle Registration System: An Arma Approach

The role of transportation in the promotion of national unity and socio-economic integration in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Transport stimulates asense of oneness multi understanding in the cultural diversification of the mostpopulous nation in the sub Sahara of African Continent. it is therefore of interest tostudy using the Autoregressive Moving Average, the transportation system in Nigeriausing Lagos State (being the commercial centre) and also maintains a robust data basethrough the AUTOREG System as a case study by modeling and forecasting theVehicle registration system in terms of types and ownership. The result of theAutoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) approach indicated that there is tendencyfor an increase in the registration of Vehicles in the future. It is therefore suggested that to accommodate an increase in the number of Vehiclesregistration, a robust Vehicle database should be designed across the country forsecurity, research and adequate planning; and Nigerian government at all levels shouldstrive to provide adequate and reliable road network system to meet this emergingdevelopmental activities among others.

The Role of Social Networks in the Integration of Chinese Rural–Urban Migrants: A Migrant–Resident Tie Perspective

Using data from a survey of rural–urban migrants in a city in China, this paper investigates the relationships between migrant–resident ties and migrant integration. Migrant integration is assessed with respect to three dimensions: acculturation, socioeconomic integration and psychological integration. Migrant networks are divided into three categories: kin resident ties, non-kin resident ties and non-resident ties. The relation between resources embedded in migrant networks and socioeconomic integration is also examined by translating position-generator data into network resource indices. The results reveal that non-resident ties still make up the majority of migrant networks and migrant–resident ties are significantly associated with migrant integration. The roles of non-kin resident ties in migrant integration are more consequential. They have positive effects on all three dimensions. Considering the different effects of migrant networks on different dimensions of integration, many migrants risk being trapped in permanent poverty and falling into the underclass in city societies.

Is it (Dis)Advantageous to Have Mixed Parentage? Exploring Education & Work Characteristics of Children of Interethnic Unions in Britain

Extant studies commonly claim that mixed ethnic children face difficulties in affiliating with either of the parental ethnic group, which consequently negatively affects their identity development. However, the majority of the existing literature is based on clinical evidence of small highly self-selected samples of those seeking psychological assistance. This paper aims to investigate the socioeconomic outcomes of mixed ethnic children using the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study data (N=35,302) which is a nationally representative 1% sample of the population in England and Wales. We hypothesise that an interethnic union between one immigrant parent and one parent from a majority population could promote integration of an offspring. Here educational attainment and employment status are used as indicators of socioeconomic integration. Logistic regression is employed to estimate the probabilities of having a degree qualification and being in employment of mixed ethnic individuals comparing to children of two ethnic minority parents and native children of two native white parents.Controlling for parental demographic and socio-economic characteristics as well as neighbourhood characteristics, the results suggest that having one native white parent bring children of immigrants closer to the characteristics of the majority population, signalling better integration of children with mixed parentage compared to their counterparts whose both parents are from minority ethnic group.

Futbolistas o delincuentes: polarización de la imagen televisiva de los inmigrantes en el género informativo

Los inmigrantes son representados de dos formas muy diferentes y opuestas en el género informativo de la televisión. En la primera suelen ser deportistas de elite o artistas con una gran seguridad laboral, famosos, pacíficos, cumplidores de la ley y sin problemas de integración en lo socioeconómico. En la segunda, por el contrario, no son famosos; aparecen de forma habitual en la sección de sucesos; se vinculan frecuentemente con las actividades delictivas, ya sea como agresores o como víctimas; tienen peores categorías laborales y su precariedad es mayor. Estos dos polos opuestos en la vida real son colectivos minoritarios, que en este medio se encuentran sobrevalorados por su constante aparición en las noticias y reportajes. Esta imagen sesgada podría no estar favoreciendo la integración de las personas de origen extranjero.

Engendering an Endogenous Framework for Socio-economic Development in the ECOWASSub-region

This study explores how a home-grown framework could be advanced for the process of socio-economic transformation of the ECOWAS sub-region. Subsisting cleavages toward former colonial powers (and other global powers), existence of multiple monetary zones and border posts have been hindering productive socio-economic interactions among over 300 million inhabitants of West Africa. The study analyzes how uncensored cross-border mobility and institutionalization of a single monetary zone could facilitate regional socio-economic integration and development of West Africa. It identifies extant culture of ‘transnational simultaneity’ among Nigerian migrants in Cote d’Ivoire as a formidable means in this regard. Imperative data for the study were derived from primary (interviews) and secondary (evaluative) sources.

Do they progress or do they lag behind? Educational attainment of immigrants’ children in Italy: The role played by generational status, country of origin and social class

In this paper we investigate immigrant-native differentials in Italian upper secondary education. We use Italian Labour Force Survey data to provide evidence from a new context of immigration which has been not adequately covered by research so far. We focus on the population of 15–19-year-olds and investigate their educational participation in upper secondary education both in its horizontal dimension, by examining the choice among three school branches (i.e., vocational, technical and general schools), and in its vertical dimension, by assessing dropout risks. We find compelling evidence of a pronounced educational gap between natives and children of immigrants, which reaches its maximum when considering first-generation youths, sensibly decreases when considering the second generation and totally disappears when looking at children of mixed-parentage. However, these overall generational patterns disguise a highly heterogeneous situation. Some national-origin groups severely disadvantaged in the first generation (e.g., Eastern Asians) completely catch up with natives when considering the second generation, while some others (e.g., Northern Africans) still lag behind. Hence, immigrants’ scholastic adaptation in Italy follows heterogeneous paths rather than being a straight way to full integration into the host society. Finally, in line with previous research, social class accounts for nearly half of the gap for the first generation and over 70 per cent for the second generation, clearly indicating that the educational success of immigrants’ children results not only from a positive acculturation process of the children but also from a positive socioeconomic integration of their parents. However, the contribution of social class varies substantially across national-origin groups: the relative contribution of social origins is stronger for the least disadvantaged groups, suggesting that the particularly high drawbacks of the most severely disadvantaged groups may be rooted in linguistic and cultural factors.

Social Construction of Community and Immigration Networks in Rural Areas: Towards a Dynamic View of Their Importance to Balkan Immigrants

AbstractIn this study we firstly introduce a source of social capital formation that has not yet been pointed out by the theory of social capital. We do this by historically assessing the social structures in South European rural areas, with a particular focus on the ones prevailing in the Greek countryside. This is the historically embedded sense of community for people living in agricultural communities. Secondly, we introduce immigrants' social networks into the countryside's particular social environment in order to juxtapose their importance for the immigrants' integration. Our conclusion, articulated in four prepositions, is that, the interaction of immigrants with the communal structures and with the characteristics of the social capital, which is based on the sense of community, creates under appropriate conditions a favourable environment for the immigrants' socioeconomic integration.