The goal of this panel, part of a two panel proposal, is to further develop comparative perspectives on immigrant integration across states with similarities in their federalized or de-centralized responses to the arrival of migrants.  Recent literature in Europe has focused on the perception of an ‘integration crisis’, falling back on the – implicit – hypothesis of a centrality of national governments’ discourses and policies of immigrant integration. Yet, pioneering work on the multilevel governance of immigrant integration has showed a more complex picture. The concrete managing of this politically sensitive issue is carried on by different institutions placed at various levels of government, as well as by different civil society organisations. Consistency between national approaches and immigrant integration policies taking place on the ground is far from being the rule.

 The presentations in this panel contribute to a deepening of the analysis of the multi-level governance of immigrant integration by considering the interactions across different levels of governance, i.e. local, national and, depending on the context, including also regions, states and/or European institutions. Along with this vertical dimension of multi-level governance the panel these papers also explore a horizontal dimension, comparing immigrant integration across cases, whether local, national or regional. The aim of the panel is to further develop the theoretical framework for the study of immigrant integration in receiving societies on the two sides of the Atlantic.