The Reification of Integration

Kögel, Johannes (2015): The Reification of Integration. The problem with integration, the role of social sciences and a theoretical sketch of an alternative research approach. Third African Diaspora Workshop, University of Cape Town, 2-3 February 2015.

Abstract

The problem with integration is a twofold one, a socio-theoretical and a methodological one. Socio-theoretically, the concept of integration is forced upon a heterogeneous and disintegrated society. Methodologically, by deploying the concept of integration within social sciences reifying ramifications are established. This article proposes a theoretical sketch for an alternative route for researching migration and integration, which escapes both shortcomings by modifying its theoretical presumptions on the one hand and extracting its reifying connotations on the other hand. The alternative research model, the life situation model (LSM), proposes a mixed methods approach, seeking generality of application and symmetry of approach.

• Dokumententyp: Konferenzbeitrag (Paper)
• Keywords: integration; assimilation; migration; reification; social sciences; mixed methods
• Fakultät: Sozialwissenschaften
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 300 Sozialwissenschaft, Soziologie ; 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 320 Politik
• Sprache: Englisch