Increased diversity is seen as a challenge to social cohesion
Didier Ruedin and Gianni D'Amato from the Swiss Forum of Migration and Population Studies wrote a research report on Social Cohesion Challenges in Europe. To do so they looked at the European (EU) and American (US) Immigration Systems of 2011. The rationale for this project is to identify the ways in which EU and US immigration systems can be substantially improved in order to address the major challenges policymakers face on both sides of the Atlantic, both in the context of the current economic crisis, and in the longer term.
More effective Transatlantic cooperation on migration issues
Ultimately, it is expected that the project will contribute to a more evidence-based and thoughtful approach to immigration policy on both sides of the Atlantic, and improve policymakers’ understanding of the opportunities for and benefits of more effective Transatlantic cooperation on migration issues. The project is mainly a comparative project focusing on 8 different challenges that policymakers face on both sides of the Atlantic, namely:
- Employment;
- Social cohesion;
- Development;
- Demographic;
- Security;
- Economic growth;
- Prosperity;
- Human rights.
Increased diversity is seen as a challenge to social cohesion
Recent decades saw increasing levels of immigration to European countries. This has led to a more diverse population in Europe, and often this increased diversity is seen as a challenge to social cohesion. At the beginning of the 21st century, the political rhetoric has become harsher, with immigration, Islam, and security increasingly mentioned in one breath. Economic pressures because of global recession are similar in most European countries, leading to lower levels of economic integration, and thus may affect social cohesion.
Reasons why reactions differ across Europe
The article presents a number of reasons why reactions differ across Europe. Reasons include the ability of immigrants to adjust the recession, or different historical legacies of immigration. Moreover, the role of the welfare state in issues of immigration and social cohesion is highlighted. The welfare state plays an important role in cultural and social integration – which can differ significantly from economic integration – and can explain why social cohesion and the state of the economy are not directly linked. In European countries, the welfare state to some degree counters purely economic trends. Additionally, the article argues that stricter immigration policies tend not to affect areas directly relevant to social integration and social cohesion, where there are possibly no real alternatives to encouraging integration. Yet, the perception in society that social cohesion is under threat can lead to hostile reactions. The political system and historical differences play a crucial role in how issues of immigration are politicized in times of economic crisis.
More information about the project
To improve the EU and US Immigration Systems' Capacity for
Responding to Global Challenges learning from experiences is
needed. The project is co-funded by the European Commission in the
framework of the Pilot Projects on “Transatlantic Methods for
Handling Global Challenges in the European Union and United
States”. The project is directed at the Migration Policy Center
(MPC – Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies – European
University Institute, Florence) by Philippe Fargues, director of
the MPC, and Demetrios Papademetriou president of the Migration
Policy Institute (MPI) the partner institution.
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Reference material
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Research | Social Cohesion Challenges in Europe
11 Aug 2011, pdf, 312KB