1st Edition
Cities and Labour Immigration Comparing Policy Responses in Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Tel Aviv
Using a unique analytical framework based on host-stranger relations, this book explores the response of cities to the arrival and settlement of labour immigrants. Comparing the local policies of four cities - Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Tel Aviv - Michael Alexander charts the development of migrant policies over time and situates them within the broader social context. Grounded in multi-city, multi-domain empirical findings, the work provides a fuller understanding of the interaction between cities and their migrant populations. Filling a gap in existing literature on migrant policy between national-level theorizing and local-level study, the book will provide an important basis for future research in the area.
Biography
Michael Alexander is Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Haifa, Israel, and research fellow at the Center for Public Management and Policy. He previously worked as consultant in the Long-Term Planning Department, Municipality of Tel Aviv. He has contributed chapters to Citizenship in European Cities (Ashgate 2004) and Multicultural Policies and Modes of Citizenship in European Cities (Ashgate 2001).
’This book comes to grips with the bewildering variety of local policies in relation to newcomers in European cities - a relatively unexplored field, but of great relevance today. This work is a significant contribution to the study of policymaking in multicultural urban settings, and will undoubtedly be an eye-opener for all those involved in the dynamics of cities and migrants.’ Rinus Penninx, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands ’Scholars of international migration have long understood the importance of the city as context for integrating newcomers. In this innovative work, Michael Alexander provides a framework for comparing cities as the context for migration and the locus of integration. Any serious student of migration must read this book.’ James F. Hollifield, Southern Methodist University, USA ’Outstanding and up-to-date, Michael Alexander fulfills a major gap by comprehensively reviewing one of the most salient policy issues in Europe today - local policy responses to labour migration...the author provides readers with [an] admirable synthesis of host-stranger relations in Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Tel-Aviv...this book will be essential reading for decision-makers and it is also important for students of migration and, indeed, anyone who wants to understand one of the burning issues of our times.’ Urban Geography Research Group '...a fascinating combination of theoretical insights with in-depth and nuanced knowledge about specific cities.' Environment and Planning 'Cities and Labour Immigration gives indeed a fresh view on immigrants' integration policy. Its focus on the city represents another challenge to the sclerotic debate on national models. On the other hand, on a more methodological and theoretical plan, this study provides a good example of how research on local level policy does not have necessarily to be confined to the case-study approach.' Journal of International Migration & Integration
