IMISCOE/ policy briefs migration integration

IMISCOE Policy Briefs endeavour to translate the Network’s research into messages that are both meaningful and useful for policymakers and other stakeholders. Publications in this series do not necessarily reflect the Network’s official policies or views. Although all IMISCOE Policy Briefs undergo a rigorous internal review, their contents reflect the opinions of the individual(s) who have authored the document.

Policy Brief 12: Transit, migration and politics: Trends and constructions on the fringes of Europe, (2008) Frank Düvell, Amsterdam: IMISCOE This policy brief is the culmination of papers presented at the IMISCOE conference (Irregular) Transit Migration in the European Space, which took place 18-20 April 2008 at Koç University, Istanbul. It argues that learning what transit migration is – and what it is not – can help policymakers refine migration measures. It presents how the term transit migration is both a political loaded term (often referring to unwanted migration) as well as a sociological concept that aims to cover a specific though complex set of types of migration. A better understanding of transit migration could alleviate the stigmatisation of migrants and transit countries.

Policy brief 11: Entrance fees for migrants: A fair and efficient proposal for immigration policy reform, (2008) Holger Kolb, Amsterdam: IMISCOE This policy brief proposes a fee-based entrance system to control migration flows. By integrating economic and migration theory, the proposal rests on the observations that current migration policies are unfair and inefficient. A fee-based entrance system could control migration flows while satisfying labour market demands, satisfying state requirements and respecting human rights. This brief is based on the IMISCOE publication Migrants and Markets: Perspectives from Economics and the Other Social Sciences by Holger Kolb and Henrik Egbert (eds) (Amsterdam University Press 2008).

Policy brief 10: Illegal migration: how gender makes a difference, (2008) Marlou Schrover, Joanne van der Leun, Leo Lucassen and Chris Quispel. Amsterdam: IMISCOE This policy brief specifically presents illegal migration in a gender-based analysis. It argues that to understand a migrant’s choice to migrate illegally and to remain illegal in the receiving country, his or her position prior to migration must be considered; that women often experience unfavourable circumstances in their country of origin and that an institutionalised perception – of illegally migrant women being at risk and illegally migrant men as posing a threat – creates different circumstances for the men and women who try to migrate illegally. The brief is based on the IMISCOE publication: Illegal Migration and Gender in a Global and Historical Perspective (Amsterdam University Press 2008).

Policy brief 9: Decentralised citizenship politics: Between national justice and municipal particularities, (2008) Marc Helbling. Amsterdam: IMISCOE Switzerland constitutes the most extreme case when it comes to local-level variations in citizenship policies. In this country, every municipality is attributed its own right to decide the criteria for naturalising foreigners. As a result, we observe a large range of different naturalisation policies. This policy brief discusses the mechanisms that influence local naturalisation policies, as well as advantages and problems that come with a decentralised system. The brief is based on the IMISCOE publication Practising Citizenship and Heterogeneous Nationhood. Naturalisations in Swiss Municipalities.

Policy brief 8: How should liberal-democratic states accommodate religious diversity?, (2008) Veit Bader. Amsterdam: IMISCOE Established institutions and policies that deal with religious diversity in liberal-democratic states are under pressure more than ever before. This policy brief, based on the IMISCOE publication Secularism or Democracy? Associational Governance of Religious Diversity (Amsterdam University Press 2007) by Veit Bader, takes an original theoretical and practical approach to problems concerning the governance of religious diversity. It proposes a moderate and flexible version of democratic institutional pluralism called Associative Democracy (AD).

Policy brief 7: The future of migration research in Europe, Karen Kraal (2008), IMISCOE Policy Briefs. Amsterdam: IMISCOE This policy brief will discuss the challenges for future migration research in Europe in relation to migration developments and policy making. The brief is based on the IMISCOE publication The Dynamics of International Migration and Settlement in Europe (2006), by Rinus Penninx, Maria Berger and Karen Kraal (eds.). The main argument is that the political discourse on migration and settlement could be fed more efficiently by developing new approaches and perspectives to better understand the dynamics of migration and settlement.

Policy brief 6: Diversity, equality and discrimination in working life, Karen Kraal and Judith Roosblad (2008), IMISCOE Policy Briefs. Amsterdam: IMISCOE This policy brief is based on an international IMISCOE expert meeting including trade unions and employers which took place on 15-16 November 2007. The brief explores the causes of labour market exclusion and company measures to promote diversity and sets out strategies to achieve equal opportunities on the labour market. The brief underlines the role of discrimination in limiting, if not altogether blocking, career opportunities and stresses the role of legislation and the commitment of trade unions, employers and researchers.

Policy brief 5: Towards a better understanding of human smuggling, Friedrich Heckmann (2007), IMISCOE Policy Briefs. Amsterdam: IMISCOE IMISCOE migration researchers have recently made new efforts to better understand the phenomenon of human smuggling. The present policy brief will report on some key results of this study.Unique data was collected that enabled the researchers to gain more insight into trends in smuggling and smuggling processes. This policy brief will give insight into the results by focusing on the process of human smuggling and will present key factors that influence the combat of human smuggling and the dramatically increasing death toll among smuggled migrants.

Policy brief 4: How to tackle ethnic diversity at the local level: examples from policy practitioners in Amsterdam and Berlin, Floris Vermeulen (2007), IMISCOE Policy Brief, Amsterdam: IMISCOE. Focusing on the dynamic of groups in an effort to promote equality can create tensions among people, particularly when policymakers focus on groups defined on the basis of ethnicity. This policy brief endeavours to provide an answer, suggesting ways to deal with the paradox of recognising difference while still promoting equality. It is meant for policymakers and policy practitioners, specifically at the local level, who are working on inequality issues.

Policy brief 3: Inside Perspectives on the Process of Human smuggling, Ilse van Liempt, (2007). IMISCOE Policy Brief, Amsterdam: IMISCOE. This policy brief is of interest to policymakers who deal with irregular migration and asylum, particularly as the fields pertain to human smuggling. The brief presents an alternative perspective from which to take into account social perceptions of human smuggling, to pay more attention to diversity within smuggling processes and to accommodate the complex stories that may lie hidden in the smuggling process.

Policy brief 2: The acquisition and loss of nationality in 15 EU states. Results of the comparative project NATAC, Bauboeck, R. (2006) IMISCOE Policy Brief, Amsterdam: IMISCOE. In this policy brief Bauboeck introduces the results of the international comparative project NATAC and gives various policy recommendations based on the results. He focuses on the impact of citizenship policies of EU member states on the settlement, political participation and integration of migrants.

Policy brief 1: Innovative concepts for alternative migration policies, Jandl, M. (2006) IMISCOE Policy Brief, Amsterdam: IMISCOE. This policy brief is directed at researchers and policy makers at all levels. It is based on a workshop with various experts and divided into two parts. The first part identifies common themes and principles in the design of alternative migration policies that run across the proposals presented at the workshop. The second part provides a short overview on the cutting-edge thinking presented by the participants. A longer workshop report is published under Working Papers Conference Reports.