Call for Papers for Special Issue in Regional Science Policy & Practice (RSPP)

Title: "Migrant Integration Challenges and Policies"

Guest Editors

Joaquim Oliveira Martins This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tomaz Ponce Dentinho This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Immigration is expanding all over the world, driven by conflicts, and fueled by declining populations, the availability of jobs and a relatively good welfare state in developed places, as well as the poverty and social instability in less developed territories.

Measured through employment and education, the integration of migrants into more developed communities has improved (OECD, 2023). However, the integration process is not the same everywhere, especially when all aspects of integration are considered more relevant for second generation migrants.

The assumption is that integration is part of migration and important for the economy, peace and the development of people and places. The principle is that connection and belonging constitute basic human rights, contributing to social justice and equity (Litevsky et al., 2023).

However, there are several integration models that involve different forms and combinations of cultural maintenance, cultural adaptation and cultural convergence. Immigrant integration needs to be deployed over several dimensions: economic integration (such as employment and entrepreneurship); social and cultural Integration (such as language and community participation); institutional Integration (access to public services housing, etc.); and civic and political Integration (such as civic rights and engagement). These processes, according to (Bloemraad et al., 2023), are historically contingent, mediated by institutions and politically constructed, opening paths for certain groups of immigrants, while erecting barriers for others.

The objective of this special issue of RSPP is to gather knowledge that reports, analyzes and evaluates evidence of the integration of migrants in relatively more affluent cities and places that are relatively more attractive than others.

References

• Bloemraad I, Isso VM, Kymlicka W, Zhou Y-Y (2023) Unpacking immigrant integration: Concepts, mechanisms and context. Background paper to World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies.
• Haim-Litevsky D, Komemi R, Lipskaya-Velikovsky L (2023) Sense of belonging, meaningful daily participation and well-being: Integrated research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4121.
• OECD/European Union (2023) Immigrant Integration Indicators 2023, OECD Publishing, Paris

All manuscripts will be submitted via the Regional Science Policy & Practice online submission system (https://www.editorialmanager.com/rspp/). Papers should have between 6000 and 8000 words. Authors should indicate in the cover letter that the paper is submitted for consideration for publication in this special issue “MIGRANT INTEGRATION CHALLENGES AND POLICIES”, otherwise, your submission will be handled as a regular manuscript. Regional Science Policy & Practice is a gold open access journal. This means that articles accepted for publication will be subject to the payment of an Article Publishing Charge (APC). Standard fees are described in detail on the journal home page.

Submission deadline: December 31 2025