E-course for youth educators how to use the videoed Casebook

When looking for definitions you probably realized the variety of definitions and approaches depending on integration policies and countries are available. There is no consensus on a single definition for integration. Below we are presenting a broadly defined term of integration according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM):

“Integration is defined as the two-way process of mutual adaptation between migrants and host societies in which migrants are incorporated into the social, economic, cultural and political life of the receiving community. As such, integration entails asset of joint responsibilities for migrants and host communities, and, in this broad understanding, incorporates other related notions such as social inclusion and social cohesion. Integration is across-cutting and multi-sectoral issue that pertains to policy areas that address the economic, social, legal, cultural, and civic spheres and impacts all aspects of migrants’ lives and their communities.” 

The inclusion or social cohesion are defined as elements of the integration processes. Assimilation, however, is specifically referring to the adjustment of the minority group to conform to the majority group. In the context of culture and migrants in society the Berry’s acculturation model (Berry, Phinney, Sam, & Vedder, 2006) is used. People with migration background or coming from ethnic minorities are exposed to different cultures and might struggle with the new culture or to find the way how to adapt to the new social context. The model below shows various strategies how people can deal with cultural change. 

Table 1. Berry's Acculturation Model 

_{Source: Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications- Volume 2, Issue 1 – Pages 21-32, Social Media Use and Social Integration of Ethnic Minorities in Germany: A New Interdisciplinary Framework By Alexandra Mittelstädt, Özen Odag}