The holistic ambition: Social cohesion and the culturalization of citizenship

Abstract

Policy-making in Europe with respect to migrant population problems builds on an integration—citizenship—social cohesion nexus representing a holistic ambition where each nation state manifests its own presumed national—cultural order as normative. Migrant-related issues thus become couched in idioms focusing on culture, ethnicity and identity. The shortcomings of this approach are discussed with reference to the shape of immigration-related social issues. The article also indicates how the representation of problem issues through the integration—citizenship—social cohesion nexus opens for conflicts, not just between migrants and autochthonous, but also between segments in the host populations. A main argument is made to the effect that we need a much better understanding of how the receiving countries’ national and other contingencies shape migrant lives.