Regulating Migrant Integration: Examination of Multiculturalism and Assimilation

Abstract

In recent years, increased migration and humanitarian refugee flows have heightened fears that migrants could fail to integrate into their host countries – therefore becoming burdens on generous welfare states or turn towards extremist ideals. This research thus sought to measure the implications that certain immigrant integration policies could pose on opportunities for immigrants living in developed countries like France, Germany, Australia, and Canada. To assess assimilationist and multiculturalist policies, the attainment of migrant opportunities was measured with the OECD and European Union’s data source, Indicators of Immigrant Integration (2015). While several indicators across the integration issue areas (economic, social, and political) demonstrate that countries with multiculturalist policies had smaller gaps of difference between native and nonnative populations, many are less significant after considering migrant education- and skill- level distribution. However, other conclusions in regard to future steps towards improved integration policies were found as well. The contributions from this study compounds on existing migration research and should move governing bodies closer to systematic policies that enable them to reap collective benefits of migration. In addition, civil society and intergovernmental organizations should use these insights in the development of realistic and effectual models of integration for future implementation.