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Following the research agenda introduced by Will Kymlicka (1995), this qualitative study offers an interpretation of how the integration of immigrants is constructed by the national minorities of Québec and South Tyrol, two groups that... more
Following the research agenda introduced by Will Kymlicka (1995), this qualitative study offers an interpretation of how the integration of immigrants is constructed by the national minorities of Québec and South Tyrol, two groups that are constantly undergoing a process of redefinition of their collective identities based on a differentiation from the Others who do not belong to the in-group. Immigrants today have become the most significant Others for these groups, as the sense of belonging that they are expected to join is inherently fragmented since they are not part to the original compromises that are specific of these sub-national polities. Therefore, the question this study aims to answer is how the national minorities redraw the boundaries of their identity in relation to the phenomenon of immigration, and how do they practically accommodate for this change. The hypotheses to be tested are whether the national minority groups of Québec and South Tyrol: H1. engage in a process of reconstruction of their identity by trying to construct a definition that allows newcomers to assimilate in their group; H2. adopt practical policy measures to assimilate newcomers in their group. The two hypotheses are tested respectively: H1. by conducting an analysis of the political narrative of the main parties, their electoral appeals and speeches; H2. by analysing the integration policies in the field of education, language, and social policy. The comparison between Québec and South Tyrol has the potential to provide a basic understanding of the impact of immigration in two sub-national polities that are very different, but still adopt similar political narratives and policy strategies with regard to the integration of newcomers.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
 Introduction
1. Research question ________________________________________________________________________ 11
2. Literature _______________________________________________________________________________ 13
3. Argument and hypotheses __________________________________________________________________ 15
4. Research method _________________________________________________________________________ 16
5. Organization ____________________________________________________________________________ 18
 Chapter 1Identity politics in two sub-national divided polities:the framework and the differences
1.1 Introduction ____________________________________________________________________________ 23
1.2 Sub-national polities: multinational claims ____________________________________________________ 24
1.3 Identity politics: a tale of fragmentation and ethnic competition ___________________________________ 27
1.4 Two polities: within a common framework, several specificities ___________________________________ 34
1.4.1 Politics and history 34
1.4.2 Identity politics 36
1.4.3 The reality of immigration 38
1.5 Summary ______________________________________________________________________________ 45
 Chapter 2The political narrative of immigration:collective perceptions between hope and anxiety
2.1 Introduction ____________________________________________________________________________ 47
2.2 Immigration as a nation-building tool ________________________________________________________ 48
2.3 The optimistic view: civic nationalism beyond ethnic politics _____________________________________ 51
2.4 The reality of immigration: identity anxiety ___________________________________________________ 54
2.5 Summary ______________________________________________________________________________ 63
 Chapter 3Integration policies:between assimilation and marginalization
3.1 Introduction ____________________________________________________________________________ 67
3.2 Principles of policy-making in sub-national divided polities ______________________________________ 68
3.3 The strategic importance of managing immigration in sub-national contexts __________________________ 69
3.4 Immigrants' selection: admission policy ______________________________________________________ 72
3.5 Immigrants' integration: adaptation policies ___________________________________________________ 76
3.6 Strategies of inclusion and exclusion ________________________________________________________ 78
3.6.1 Assimilation 80
3.6.2 Marginalization 83
3.7 Summary ______________________________________________________________________________ 86
 
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Chapter 4Integration policies:the areas of education and language
4.1 Introduction ____________________________________________________________________________ 89
4.2 Assimilationist strategies: the policy of education and language ___________________________________ 90
4.3 From assimilation to marginalization: a cultural backlash ________________________________________ 102
4.4 Adjusting public policies: immigrant voices and the accommodation crisis ___________________________ 106
4.5 Summary ______________________________________________________________________________ 111
 Conclusion
 Bibliography
1. Books and papers _________________________________________________________________________ 123
2. Policy documents and other primary sources ___________________________________________________ 131
3. Newspapers articles _______________________________________________________________________ 132
 
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List of the Figures
Figure 1. Migratory trend in Québec: 1945 - 2011 .......................................................................................... 39Figure 2. Migratory trend in South Tyrol: 1960 – 2010 ................................................................................... 39Figure 3. Most striking similarities and differences ......................................................................................... 42Figure 4. Extended list of similarities and differences ..................................................................................... 43Figure 5. Demographic composition of Québec and South Tyrol .................................................................... 44Figure 6: Demographic composition of Québec 1971 and South Tyrol 2009 ................................................ ..44Figure 7: Native groups' tensions towards immigrants ..................................................................................... 78Figure 8: Integration policy in sub-national divided polities ......................................................................... 79Figure 9: Immigrants’ education choices in South Tyrol ................................................................................ 94Figure 10. Immigrants' education choices in Québec (school year 2003/2004) ............................................... 94Figure 11. Francophone's group educational language choice in Québec (school year 2006-2007) ................ 95Figure 12. Immigrant children's choice in South Tyrol divided by level (school year 2009-2010) .................. 99Figure 13: Instances of policy measures ......................................................................................................... 110Figure 14: Strategies enacted: language and policies ..................................................................................... 111
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