Building migrants' belonging through positive interactions

Integrating transnational migrants into local communities is a significant challenge for policy-makers in many different national contexts.  A key part of this challenge is how to generate a sense of belonging which incorporates migrants within these communities, and which helps to overcome potential isolation, exclusion or discrimination.  This paper will explore the perspectives and dilemmas faced by policy-makers in European countries trying to achieve these aims, by presenting the empirical findings from a project funded by the Council of Europe.  These findings arose from the use of qualitative participatory research methods with a range of policy-makers responsible for migrant integration policies across a wide range of European countries.  These findings will be set critically in the context of some key theories of identity and interaction from a range of disciplines.  By doing this, implications will be considered for policy and practice which achieves more cohesive societies by supporting improved interactions that contribute towards these aims.