Tuesday, June 25, 2013
1.14 (PC Hoofthuis)
Migration has traditionally been seen as an issue for states, as crossing state borders is the definition of international migration. However, within the multi-level context of the EU, it has become apparent how visions and laws formulated at the national, or even the European, level are to be implemented and turned into practice locally and regionally (Caponio & Borkert 2010). Sweden offers an interesting case to study multi-level migration management as it receives among the largest per capita numbers of migrants in Europe and several larger cities face serious integration challenges. Moreover, Sweden has unusually large and independent municipalities. In 2006 the responsibility of asylum reception was devolved to the municipalities, in addition to the existing responsibility of welfare, housing and education, and the strengthening of the traditionally weak regional level.
This paper combines insights from multi-level governance and migration studies. What are the implications and challenges for local governance of different forms of migration (e.g. asylum, EU-free movement, TCNs)? Do governance strategies vary with different forms of migration? The aim is to study the perceptions of local stakeholders (politicians, civil servants, civil society) in relation to the constraints and possibilities provided by higher political tiers. An in-depth case study of the city of Gothenburg and its districts with varying integration challenges provides a relevant case for a multilevel governance approach along the ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ dimensions.
