Migration and Integration in Flanders: Multidisciplinary Perspectives

Across the world, and due to ongoing globalization, migration is increasingly becoming a part of daily life. But more than ever, migration can no longer be viewed as a simple linear trajectory from A to B. The emergence of transnational communities and intense interactions between regions of origin and of destination have led to new forms of social–cultural praxis and (sub)cultures which exert an important influence on the integration of immigrants. The case of Flanders, the northern part of Belgium and at the centre of EU policymaking, is presented as a case study in this book. Migration and Integration in Flanders is structured in three thematic parts, opening with chapters on the imaginaries and perceptions of people in changing migration contexts. The book then proceeds with chapters which present theoretical and empiric data on changing integration dynamics in multicultural societies. The final chapter concludes with a discussion of social networks' mediating role.

The growing complexity of migration leads the contributing authors to look beyond borders, both of national frontiers―as migration by definition implies cross-border research―and of disciplines and research methods. In doing so, the present volume offers thought-provoking essays on topical issues that stir public and political debates across Europe, and contributes to fundamental discussions on changing societies.

Contributors: Didier Boost (University of Antwerp), Noel Clycq (University of Antwerp), David De Coninck (KU Leuven), Godfried Engbersen (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Steven Groenez (KU Leuven), Kenneth Hemmerechts (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Dries Lens (University of Antwerp), François Levrau (University of Antwerp), Ive Marx (University of Antwerp), Joris Michielsen (University of Antwerp), Ward Nouwen (University of Antwerp), Edith Piqueray (University of Antwerp), Christiane Timmerman (University of Antwerp), Falke Tibax (University of Antwerp), Rut Van Caudenberg (University of Antwerp/Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), Anneloes Vandenbroucke (KU Leuven), Sanne Van de Pol (University of Antwerp), Dirk Vanheule (University of Antwerp), Gert Verschraegen (University of Antwerp), Sunčica Vujić (University of Antwerp)

Christiane Timmerman is professor and head of the Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS) at the University of Antwerp. Noel Clycq is visiting professor at the University of Antwerp. He holds the chair in European Values: Discourses and Prospects at the Faculty of Arts and is a member of the Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS). François Levrau has obtained his PhD in social science at the Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS) and is currently a postdoctoral assistant at the Centre Pieter Gillis, University of Antwerp. Lore Van Praag is a postdoctoral researcher in the Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS) at the University of Antwerp. Dirk Vanheule is professor of law, dean of the Faculty of Law, and chairperson of the Centre for Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS) at the University of Antwerp.