Refugee Identity and Integration in Germany during the European “Migration Crisis”: Why Local Community Support Matters, and Why Policy Gets It Wrong

Abstract

Although the 2015 “refugee crisis” dominated Europe’s policy-making agenda, little research was actually conducted with refugees. Using focus groups, interviews and photovoice, this study explores the identity and integration processes of 20 refugees, in two German towns, in 2017. While previous scholarship has rightly emphasized the importance of secure legal status for integration, this study highlights the critical role of community support by national citizens in fostering a greater sense of belonging and integration. The study calls into question new integration policies, like Germany’s, which absolve national citizens of any responsibility for integration.

Keywords:

• Refugee crisis
• social representations
• identity
• integration
• Germany

Disclosure statement

The authors have no known conflicts of interest to disclose.

Table 1. Sample.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 In two cases, interviews were held in pairs instead of individually to bridge language barriers. Both pairs were people in trusting relationships.

2 All names are pseudonyms. To preserve anonymity, we have not identified participants by country of origin when quoting them directly.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carmen S. Lienen

Carmen S. Lienen is now at the Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg. Emily LeRoux-Rutledge is now at the Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

Emily LeRoux-Rutledge

Carmen S. Lienen is now at the Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg. Emily LeRoux-Rutledge is now at the Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).