Building the Foundations for Inclusion in Europe? - Session III: Integration policymaking in a time of populism: How ...

The migration crisis transformed the landscape of immigrant integration in Europe. Large-scale and spontaneous movements placed unprecedented pressures on public services and amplified social divisions, which, in turn, fueled the rise of populist parties. But while the everyday pressures of the migration crisis have absorbed most of the bandwidth of integration policymakers in recent years, larger challenges could lie ahead. Aging populations will place extreme pressure on welfare-state institutions and public spending. Digitization, automation, and artificial intelligence will transform labor markets as we know them. And greater cultural clashes and social unrest—especially if accompanied by another migration crisis—could further splinter the political landscape. How well Europe can weather tomorrow’s challenges will depend on the institutions and systems built today.
This meeting highlighted lessons from MPI Europe’s flagship Integration Futures initiative, which seeks to develop creative and strategic approaches to addressing today’s toughest integration challenges—and to better plan for those around the corner.
As policymakers working on integration issues come under increased media and political scrutiny, their jobs have become vastly more complex. They need new skills and tools to manage relationships (within and outside of government), absorb and synthesise information, and collaborate with new actors interested in supporting integration.
This session looked at:? What are the smartest new ideas for addressing some of today’s thorniest integration challenges? Which promising innovations could integration policymakers import from other policy portfolios?? What skills and tools do policymakers and others working on these issues need to deliver the best results? What institutions and systems do we need to build to withstand the migration pressures of the future?? Which public, private, and civil society actors need to be at the table, and how should governments manage these complex relationships and ensure accountability?