Challenging the Paradoxes of Integration Policies: Latin Americans in the European City

Fabiola Pardo

Aug 2017 · Migration, Minorities and Modernity Book 2 · Springer

About this ebook

This book traces Latin American migration to Europe since the 1970s. Focusing on Amsterdam, London, and Madrid, it examines the policies of integration in a comparative perspective that takes into account transnational, national, regional and local levels. It examines the entire mechanism that Latin American migrants confront in the European cities they settle, and provides readers with a theoretical framework on integration that addresses the concepts of multiculturalism, interculturality, transculturality and transnationalism. This work is based on rich qualitative data from in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation complemented by a substantial documentary and legislative analysis. It reveals that current policies are limited and migrants are excluded in most of the formal venues for integration. In addition, the book shows the many ways that migrants negotiate the constraints and imperatives of integration. In Western Europe today, immigrants are largely assuming the entire responsibility of their integration. This book provides readers with much needed insight into why European integration policies are not responding to the needs of immigrants nor to society as a whole.

About the author

Dr. Fabiola Pardo, Dutch Colombian, Ph.D. in Social and Political Science from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Montreal, Canada. Her pre-graduate studies are in Law and Philosophy at the Externado University and National University of Colombia, respectively. Since 2007 she works as a research professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at the Externado University of Colombia and coordinates LIMITI, a research group on international migration and intercultural trajectories. During her career, Dr. Pardo has worked in Colombia, Canada and the Netherlands in public and academic institutions on themes related to urban and cultural studies, immigration policy and theory, multiculturalism and intercultural relations. Some relevant publications are: “Integration policies and practices: Intercultural urban trajectories of Latin American migrants in Europe” in Migration, Stadt und Urbanität. Perspektiven auf die Heterogenität migrantisher lebenswelten (2017) Springer; Migración laboral en Europa. Crisis, políticas y movilidades en el caso de los latinoamericanos en España (2016) Externado University Press); Inmigración, multiculturalidad and políticas de integración: Colombianos en Ámsterdam, Londres y Madrid (2012); “La inmigración y el devenir de las sociedades multiculturales: perspectivas políticas y teóricas” en Las Migraciones en América Latina: Políticas, Culturas y Estrategias (2008).