Migrants and social policy: shifting research agendas

Continuous immigration in Europe has led to increased ethnic and religious diversity. The enlargement of the EU and its common market has also caused internal work-related migration on an unprecedented scale. Many countries have developed policies to deal with this intersection between migration and social policy. Examining social policies in relation to migration and integration thus raises crucial questions about the rights of migrants within this institutionalized response, the inclusiveness of social protection systems, and how the conditions migrants are facing shape their life conditions. Consequently, social policy scholars are interested in how immigration as a phenomenon influences welfare states and social policies in the future, as well as the role social policies play in migrants' everyday life, well-being, life prospects and attitudes. Moreover, migrants' rights to, usage of, and attitudes towards social policies have gained much attention in social policy debates recently. This chapter highlights these research findings.