Summary

This book is published by the Migration Policy, Research and Communications Department (MPRC) of the International Organization for Migration.

Detail

The process of migration is a process of change, for migrants as well as host and home societies: migrant flows are touching more and more countries around the world, with migrants encountering new places and cultures and societies becoming increasingly heterogeneous. This poses fundamental questions about the value of diversity as well as practical questions regarding daily social relations: how do societies manage change? How do they respond to diversity? How do migrants handle their migration experience and relate to their new countries and communities? And how can multidimensional differences associated with migration be accommodated and harnessed for the benefit of societies in countries of origin and destination as well as migrants themselves?

Integration is the process by which these changes and the resulting diversity can be managed. While the term is understood differently in different contexts, “integration” can be taken to denote the process by which migrants become part of society, both as individuals and as groups. It can be viewed as a two-way process of mutual adaptation by migrants and host societies. Integration encompasses a number of elements, including social, economic, legal, cultural and religious dimensions of social interaction. Although the relative importance of these dimensions may vary depending on the specific profile of the migrant and on the image of migrants in the host society, all of these aspects should be considered in developing a comprehensive approach to integration.

The phenomenon of migration itself is undergoing rapid changes, including in the direction and duration of movements. There is a growing trend towards more circular, multidirectional and temporary migratory patterns. Many countries that were once relatively unaffected by migration now see it as a policy priority. As origin and destination have diversified, so have the types of people that migrate, including an ever growing proportion of women. All of these factors contribute to a rising importance of integration issues in today’s world and highlight the need to revisit the existing integration models and strategies with a view to devising innovative approaches to integration that would reflect modern realities.