Configurations of Immigrant Integration Policies in Europe: An Exploratory Appraisal

Today, in all European countries, it is possible to identify a framework of policies addressing immigrants’ integration. By considering the various areas of policies concerned with such a phenomenon, the present study identifies the existence of shared patterns of responses across countries. I do so by introducing the concept of configuration of integration policies (CIP) and relying on a hierarchical cluster analysis. The analysis identifies two main shared-configurations for dealing with immigrant integration cutting across the East/West cleavage, with the Eastern configuration more restrictive than the Western one, especially in the areas of labor, education, political participation, and citizenship; they are, instead, closer to each other as they pertain to family, residence, and antidiscrimination; namely, in policy areas concerned with salient human rights issues and targeted by European directives. This evidence speaks to the broad debate in the field of immigrant integration policies, paving the way for further research and theoretical speculation