Governance of integration and the role of the countries of origin : a global perspective

In the past decade the governance of immigrant integration – defined as the set of actors, structures, mechanisms and processes of cooperation that make up the framework for integration policies and practices – has gained increasing attention in the policy agenda in Europe, OECD countries and beyond (Desiderio and Weinar 2014). The scope of actions and the range of actors involved have constantly broadened to engage not only governments – at various levels and across different portfolios – but also civil society. Moreover, countries of origin have started to conceive of supporting integration as part of a broader diaspora engagement strategy – as a means of strengthening ties with the diaspora abroad and of putting its members in a position to contribute to the origin country. These policies thus support, at least in their stated goals, a functional integration (not necessarily full identification) of emigrants at destination, i.e. helping them function as productive members of the host societies. They are largely formulated by the institutions dedicated to diaspora engagement and are generally implemented with the involvement of the ministry of foreign affairs, consular networks and other offices set in receiving countries. We are now only starting to understand this integration/diaspora nexus (Délano and Gamlen 2014; Délano 2009). The need to understand their role as creating obstacles or support for integration has become crucial to international cooperation on migration