Migrant Integration in Western Europe: Convergence in Policies, but Not in Outcomes

This introductory chapter lays the foundation for the remainder of the book in several ways. First, I illustrate the importance of studying migrant integration by showing its relevance to Western European policymakers, publics, and migrant communities. Second, this chapter provides a brief history of migration and migrant integration in Western Europe, which not only helps to put my theoretical arguments and empirical findings in context but also demonstrates the increasing significance of migrant integration in Western Europe over time. Third, I illustrate the puzzle motivating this study, namely the fact that despite converging integration policies across Western Europe, substantial cross-national differences in migrant integration outcomes have persisted. This illustration is based on a comparison of recent statistics and figures in multiple Western European countries as well as a more in-depth look at two cases, Italy and Spain. Finally, this introduction lays out the plan for the remainder of this book by previewing the contents of each chapter.