Why do migration and diversity policies so often derail? A complexity perspective on the governance of migration and diversity

Abstract

There are few policy areas that are so often in some form of ‘crisis-mode’ as migration and (migration-related) diversity policies. In this contribution, speaker Peter Scholten will take a complexity governance perspective on migration and diversity policy. He will analyse why migration and diversity policies so often derail in their effort to come to terms with complexity. In this regard Peter will distinguish various forms of alienation in policy processes, ranging from political forms of alienation to institutions, social and problem-related alienation. Building on complexity literature, he will also sketch the contours of a governance approach to embrace complexity. In this regard Peter will establish links with the literature on environmental and gender mainstreaming as illustrations of complexity governance.