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7 - Anticipating Public Approval in the Binding of Immigrant Integration Problems and Solutions
- Edited by Philippe Zittoun, Université Lumière Lyon II, Frank Fischer, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Universität Kassel, Germany, Nikolaos Zahariadis, Rhodes College, Memphis
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- Book:
- The Political Formulation of Policy Solutions
- Published by:
- Bristol University Press
- Published online:
- 21 April 2023
- Print publication:
- 23 July 2021, pp 137-150
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Summary
Introduction
This chapter looks at targeting as an essential and insightful step in the policy solution formulation process. By studying how people are classified and categorized as target groups in Dutch immigrant integration policies, the chapter illustrates how the formulation of policy solutions is constrained by the taboos on the political and public agenda. By avoiding group-based policies for immigrants and applying indirect or generic policies instead, policy makers anticipate public and political approval in the pre-decision stage of policy solution definition. The analysis of targeting as part of the policy solution process contributes to this book's aim of a constructivist understanding of the policy formulation stage. In support of the editors’ claim that, like the policy stage of problem definition, the construction of policy solutions is also marked by conflict, critique, and opposition (see Chapter 1), this chapter illustrates how policy makers cope with the ‘conflictual nature’ of solution definition through different discursive strategies for targeting. These interchanging strategies help policy makers to navigate contestation and policy taboos, within both the administration as well as the broader public and political debate. Policy makers anticipate the public approval of their policy solutions in the selection of target groups and policy instruments. Although policy formulation largely takes place in the ‘hidden’ pre-decision stage, the public is present in the stage of policy solution formulation. By anticipating public and political approval, policy makers see themselves forced to restrict the possible policy solutions to those that are considered politically opportune.
Given the contested nature of migration policies and their key focus on identity, an analysis of targeting strategies in this field provides an insightful look into the dynamics of policy solution formulation. Based on an analysis of different targeting strategies in Dutch immigrant integration policy making between 2010 and 2018 and interviews with policy makers, this chapter contributes to the first dimension of the pragmatic constructivist approach to public policy, ‘meaning in action’, by illustrating how policy taboos influence the process of binding policy problems and solutions. Furthermore, the alternative strategies that policy makers apply contribute to the second and third dimensions of coalition forming and spaces of dispute.
Chapter Two - Mainstreaming in Response to Superdiversity? The Governance of Migration-Related Diversity in France, The UK and the Netherlands
- Edited by Jenny Phillimore, University of Birmingham, Nando Sigona, Katherine Tonkiss, Aston University
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- Book:
- Superdiversity, Policy and Governance in Europe
- Published by:
- Bristol University Press
- Published online:
- 04 March 2021
- Print publication:
- 21 October 2020, pp 29-49
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Summary
Introduction
Superdiversity challenges traditional modes of governance regarding migration-related diversity. It refers to multidimensional shifts in migration patterns (Vertovec, 2007; Meissner and Vertovec, 2015) that challenge policies directed at specific migrant ‘groups’ that would oversimplify the diversity within and between migrant groups and society. The increasing complexity that superdiversity refers to and the inadvertent effects of policy targeting were core elements of the so-called multiculturalism backlash in many European countries (Vertovec and Wessendorf, 2010). Furthermore, the deepening of diversity that is associated with superdiversity would complicate any policy oriented at the ‘assimilation’ of newcomers into the host society, as this host society itself is being transformed in response to migration as well (Crul, 2016). Although various studies have shown that superdiversity demands a rethinking of governance responses and government policies (Vertovec, 2007; Crul, 2016; Phillimore, 2015), little is known about what form or forms of governance and policy would best fit situations of superdiversity.
This chapter examines whether, and if so, how and why, governance mainstreaming forms a suitable policy response to situations of superdiversity. The concept of governance refers to problem-solving strategies that are developed and implemented in complex networks of actors (Teisman et al, 2009), including but certainly not limited to government institutions and government policies (Colebatch, 2009; Wimmer and Schiller, 2003). The concept of governance mainstreaming has been developed more broadly in other areas such as gender, disability and environmental governance (Dalal-Clayton and Bass, 2009; Nunan et al, 2012; Priestley and Roulstone, 2009, 4–5; Verloo, 2005; Walby 2005). Building from this literature we define mainstreaming of migration-related diversity as the effort to embed diversity in a generic approach across policy areas as well as policy levels, to establish a whole-society approach to diversity rather than an approach to specific migrant groups, in complex actor networks.
In this chapter, we analyse patterns in the policy approaches to immigrant integration in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France from the conceptual lens of governance mainstreaming, and analyse how and why mainstreaming was developed as a governance strategy, and what role superdiversity played in the rationale for and the choice of strategy towards mainstreaming.
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