Social psychology and social relations?

Introduction

Damen et al. (2022) explore the understanding and expectations of recently arrived refugees regarding integration in the Netherlands. They move beyond solely studying policy perspectives and delve into the refugees' own experiences and aspirations, emphasizing their agency and participation in the integration process.

Methodology

The study employs a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 29 refugees from Syria, Eritrea, and Somalia who arrived in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2020. Thematic analysis is used to identify key themes and insights from participants' narratives.

Results

• Understanding of integration:
  • Refugees define integration broadly, encompassing language learning, employment, social connections, and cultural engagement.
  • They recognize the importance of both individual effort and societal support in achieving integration.
  • Concerns exist about potential discrimination and cultural barriers in achieving successful integration.
• Expectations for integration:
  • Refugees prioritize language learning as a key facilitator for social and economic integration.
  • Access

Introduction

Kang (2021) examines the factors driving asylum applications in European countries between 2008 and 2014, a period encompassing the "refugee crisis." He challenges the "pull factor" narrative that solely emphasizes economic incentives, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of both push and pull factors.

Methodology

The study employs regression analysis using data on asylum applications, economic indicators, political variables, and geographical proximity for 28 European countries. The analysis differentiates between various political push factors, including democracy scores, human rights ratings, and the presence of civil war.

Results

• Push factors:
  • Political instability, measured by lower democracy scores and worse human rights ratings, significantly drives asylum seeking.
  • Civil war in origin countries significantly increases asylum applications.
• Pull factors:
  • Economic factors like higher GDP per capita and lower unemployment rates in destination countries have a positive, but smaller, effect on asylum applications compared to push factors.

Introduction

Neumayer (2005) challenges the perception of asylum seekers as "bogus refugees" driven purely by economic motives. He investigates the determinants of asylum migration to Western Europe, arguing that political persecution, human rights abuses, and violent conflict play a significant role alongside economic factors.

Methodology

The analysis employs regression analysis using pooled cross-sectional time-series data on asylum applications in 15 Western European countries from 1985 to 2000. Various explanatory variables are considered, including economic indicators (GDP per capita, income inequality), political factors (democracy score, human rights rating), and conflict situations (civil war dummy, refugees per capita).

Results

• Economic hardships, measured by lower GDP per capita and higher income inequality, are positively associated with higher asylum flows, confirming their pull factor potential.
• However, political factors like lower democracy scores and worse human rights ratings also drive asylum applications, highlighting the push factor dimension.
• Violent conflict, proxied by the presence

Introduction

Filindra and Goodman (2019) argue that studying immigration policy offers a unique lens to examine broader public policy dynamics. The article highlights advancements in theory and measurement within this field, focusing on three key areas:

1. Conceptualizing the policy domain: Immigration policy encompasses diverse components, including entry, settlement, and citizenship regulations. By analyzing these intricacies, we gain a deeper understanding of policymaking processes and their impacts.
2. Analyzing causal pathways: Immigration policy affects individuals, communities, and national economies in multifaceted ways. The article emphasizes the need for rigorous methods to disentangle these complex causal relationships.
3. Multilevel analysis: Immigration policy involves interactions between national, regional, and local levels. The authors advocate for considering these multilevel dynamics to comprehensively understand policy implementation and outcomes.

Methodology

The article primarily adopts a theoretical and methodological approach. It reviews existing scholarly contributions and critically analyzes various research strategies used in studying immigration policy.