H2020 Projekt Whole-COMM: Exploring the Integration of Post-2014 Migrants in Small and Medium-Sized Towns and Rural Areas from a Whole of Community Perspective

Objectives of Research

Over the last few years, the EU has received unprecedented numbers of migrants and asylum seekers, often in an unorderly way. This has led to a growing immigrant presence in scarcely prepared small and medium-size towns and rural areas. The way in which these local communities respond to this challenge will deeply shape the future of integration in Europe.

Whole-COMM proposes to address these issues through an innovative Whole-of-Community research approach which conceives of migrant integration as a process of community-making that:

takes place in specific local contexts characterised by distinct configurations of structural factors;
is brought about by the interactions of multiple actors with their multilevel and multi-situated relations;
and is open-ended and can result in either more cohesive or more fragmented social relations.

By focusing on small and medium-size towns and rural areas, Whole-COMM contributes to filling a serious gap in existing research and policy debates which so far have been concerned primarily with big cities.

Whole-COMM is funded by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 framework. It is carried out by a consortium of 12 scientific institutions under the scientific leadership of Tiziana Caponio (FIERI/Collegio Alberto). Professorin Dr. Birgit Glorius represents the TU Chemnitz in this project. Partner are: Collegio Alberto/Fieri (IT), Universität für Weiterbildung Krems (AT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE), Technische Universität Chemnitz (DE), European University Institute (IT), Centre D’informacio I Documentacio Internacionals A Barcelona (ES), Uniwersytet Wroclawski (Pl), Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (Nl), Malmo Universitet (SE), Migration Policy Group (BE), Sabanci Universitesi (TR), York University (CA).

Results

We are happy to share the latest findings from the German research of Whole COMM with you. We outline the findings from our empirical research in six case studies in several Country Reports. The first report focuses on local policies in refugee integration and multilevel governance relations. The second looks deeper into the topics of access to housing, to the labor market, to language classes and social meeting places. It also takes into account how the COVID-pandemic impacts integration processes.

Whole-COMM Country report on local policies (WP3)

Whole-COMM Country report on refugees access to services (WP4)

Whole COMM-Country Report "Social Relations" (WP5)

You can find up-todate information on the project, recent research results and current activities on the Whole-COMM website.

Team lead: Prof. Dr. Birgit Glorius

Researchers: Dr. Friederike Enßle-Reinhardt, Hanne Schneider

Student researcher: Edgar Zschoche (2022-2023)