1,752 research outputs found
Analysis and Conclusions
No full textThis chapter recaps the main findings of this volume, which has taken stock of existing research on integration processes and policies in Europe. It summarizes what research says about integration processes, in particular, the relevance of actors in origin countries for integration. A few general conclusions are drawn. First, integration policies—or policies under the flag of integration—have developed at many levels of government: nationally, locally, regionally, and at the supra-national level of the European Union. This last is a relative newcomer, but an increasingly important platform for all. "Multilevelness" is a characteristic that will remain influential into the future. Second, a multitude of stakeholders has become involved in integration as policy designers and implementers. These include not only governmental and quasi-governmental actors but also immigrant collectives, civil society, social partners, and nongovernmental agents. They bring to the policymaking table quite different views on what integration is, what integration policies should promote, and who needs what assistance in the integration process. Finally, the European Commission’s shift from a definition of integration as a two-way process to a three-way process is found to reflect mainly an effort to bring together the policy activities of different parties (i.e., in countries of origin and destination) in the different but related fields of integration, immigration control, and Migration & Development. Policies in these three fields had previously developed simultaneously but separately. Thus a logic of policymaking—and not an evidence-based scientific argument—can be said to underlie the European Commission’s redefinition of integration
Introduction: Integration as a Three-Way Process Approach?
No full textThis chapter introduces the topic of this volume, which is the recent departure from viewing integration as a strictly two-way process (between migrants and the receiving society) to acknowledge the potential role that countries of origin might play in support of the integration process. It traces the origin of this change in policy perspective, reviewing the Europeanization of immigration and integration policy since the Tampere Programme (1999-2004). Indeed, a major shift in policy framing came in 2011, with the renewed European Agenda for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, which explicitly added the countries of origin as a third key actor in the process of immigrants’ integration, thereby introducing the three-way process in European policy. In addition to tracing the development of European policy on integration, it takes a step back to consider three broad and interconnected issues: (i) the way integration is conceptualized and studied in Europe; (ii) the way integration policies are studied and how the concept of integration is used in policy formulation and practice; and (iii) the way new perspectives and actors (e.g., those in countries of origin) are incorporated in analyses of integration processes and policies. It concludes by introducing the further structure of the volume
The Concept of Integration as an Analytical Tool and as a Policy Concept
No full textThis chapter expands on recent approaches to the concept of integration. It defines integration in an open non-normative fashion as "the process of becoming an accepted part of society". For the study of integration processes and policies a heuristic model is presented encompassing three analytically distinct dimensions in which people may (or may not) become an accepted part of society: (i) the legal-political, (ii) the socio-economic, and (iii) the cultural-religious. Each dimension involves different parties (the immigrants themselves and the receiving society), different levels of analysis (the individual, collective, and institutional levels), and other relevant factors such as time and generations. For the study of integration policies, policy frames, concrete policy measures, and both the vertical and horizontal aspects of integration policymaking are considered in order to account for the complex, multi-layered, and often contradictory character of integration policies. Use of the heuristic device enables integration processes and policies to be systematically described. However, comparison is key when the aim is to explain differences (and similarities) in integration outcomes. The conclusion returns to the concepts of integration and integration policies and suggests avenues for further research
The Multilevel Governance of Migration and Integration
No full textThis chapter focuses on migration and integration as multilevel policy issues and explores the consequences in terms of multilevel governance. Immigration policymaking has been characterized by continued struggle between national governments and the EU about the amount of discretion states have in interpreting EU directives. The involvement of local and regional governments in debates about intra-EU migration, particularly East-west migration from new member states, has further complicated the situation. Regarding integration, even more complex relations have emerged between local, regional, national, and EU institutions. The superdiverse cities of Europe, such as Barcelona, London, Berlin, and Rotterdam, have taken policy directions very different from their national governments, effectively "decoupling" national and local policies. While politicization of migrant integration continues to drive policies in many countries, the EU has developed various soft governance measures to promote policy learning between local governments. This chapter examines the recent evolution of migration and integration policies at the EU, national, and local levels, as well as the regional level. This enables us to understand the factors that drive policies at the different levels and the extent that these lead to convergence or divergence between the levels. Also analysed are the relations—or absence of relations—between levels of government. To make sense of these relations, a framework is applied that allows for different arrangements of relations. The notion of "multilevel governance" provides one possible way of structuring relations between various government levels
Prognostic factors for the success of endometrial ablation in the treatment of menorrhagia with special reference to previous cesarean section
No full textAbstract not availableJos A.H. Peeters, Josien P.M. Penninx, Ben Willem Mol, Marlies Y. Bonger
Bipolar versus balloon endometrial ablation in the office: a randomized controlled trial
No full textAbstract not availableJosien P.M. Penninx, Malou C. Herman, Roy F.P.M. Kruitwagen, Annette J.F. Ter Haar, Ben W. Mol, Marlies Y. Bonger
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