Innsbruck is a city located in Tyrol, Austria with a population of 132,594. People from 152 different nations live in Innsbruck and the proportion of foreigners is 31.6 % - 54 % of them are EU citizens. Currently there are about 1,600 asylum seekers living in Innsbruck, which amounts to 1.21% of the city’s population.

In the Innsbruck area, the governmental organization Tiroler Soziale Dienste (TSD) and different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work together on integration projects with asylum seekers. The city of Innsbruck and the federal government organize funding for integration projects.  All the experts interviewed work either in NGOs or in TSD. For them, integration is characterized as a two-way process, impacted by both material and immaterial resources.

The practitioners in Innsbruck agree that integration is a two-way process between the migrants and the local society, founded on mutual acceptance and effort.

The integration process is in turn dependent on different material and immaterial structures. Therefore, experts mentioned different elements that are necessary for a successful integration.

Openness to a new culture – on both sides

On the one hand the host society needs an open approach in its dealing with asylum seekers. On the other hand, for those arriving, a willingness to embrace new experiences, a capacity for independent action and a sense of personal accountability are essential.

“…and yes, to open up to the new culture and the new society and simply to different values. And yes, also of course, always trying not to somehow abandon your own culture and still adapting to the new culture in some way”- practitioner, Innsbruck 2024.

Adaptation – not assimilation

Most practitioners in the field emphasize that integration requires a degree of mutual adaptation. Both the asylum seekers and the host society must be willing to adjust in some way to foster a harmonious coexistence. Experts consistently highlight that the adaptation process for asylum seekers should have clear boundaries. They stress that complete assimilation into the host society is neither necessary nor desirable. As one expert clarified, integration should not be mistaken for assimilation. While asylum seekers are encouraged to adapt to their new environment, they should retain their personal identity and cultural essence, ensuring a balance between integration and individuality.

Most practitioners in the field emphasize that integration requires a degree of mutual adaptation. Both the asylum seekers and the host society must be willing to adjust in some way to foster a harmonious coexistence. Experts consistently highlight that the adaptation process for asylum seekers should have clear boundaries. They stress that complete assimilation into the host society is neither necessary nor desirable. As one expert clarified, integration should not be mistaken for assimilation. While asylum seekers are encouraged to adapt to their new environment, they should retain their personal identity and cultural essence, ensuring a balance between integration and individuality.

“For me personally, it means that I want the people who come to us, to have the opportunity to live their lives as they wish. Of course, that has its limits, because living together always has its boundaries, doesn’t it? But still, to the extent that I can live a happy life.... the way that suits me, right? Without having to adapt completely.”- Practitioner, Innsbruck 2024.

Language, belonging, and overcoming discrimination

In order to get in contact with local people it is essential to learn the new language. This enables asylum seekers to communicate effectively and participate fully in their new environment.

“…but also learning the language in order to be able to really participate in society, because without the language it’s difficult.” - Practitioner, Innsbruck 2024.

Furthermore, it is crucial to consider asylum seekers’ sense of wellbeing and sense of belonging in the country of arrival. Therefore, the host society has the responsibility to look after their welfare. In this regard, the experts emphasized the prevalence of racism and discrimination which asylum seekers often encounter. Such circumstances pose significant challenges for them to develop “a sense of belonging to society”, as one of the experts put it.

Premises and money – not enough

Nevertheless, integration also requires material structures. In this regard, some experts have highlighted the importance of premises. Providing appropriate premises for integration and its projects is crucial fostering a cohesive and inclusive society. It facilitates interactions and communication between individuals from diverse backgrounds, enabling the exchange of ideas and experiences. However, in the context of Innsbruck, there is a shortage of such premises, as noted by a leading expert in the field.

“...they have the opportunity to be active here, to express themselves, to participate, to join in, to develop new ideas – to being active together. It’s certainly also important that we can offer premises, because that’s something rare. It’s not so easy to have a place for clubs in Innsbruck.” - Practitioner, Innsbruck 2024.

Integration projects need premises and money to finance them. One expert explained that the biggest hurdles are financial. In this regard, all the experts agreed on the need for financial support.

Such material structures enable opportunities for asylum seekers to live their lives as they choose. It is crucial that material structures such as premises and financial resources are provided. Still the immaterial aspects seem to dominate in the experts’ views to guarantee successful integration processes. One expert made that clear in stating that successful integration would be contingent upon two conditions: firstly, that asylum seekers wish to contribute to the local community, and secondly, that they desire to actively shape the society in which they have settled.

Integration process – the need of material and immaterial structures 

The experts highlight that successful integration needs efforts on both sides – asylum seekers and the local society. Although, this interrelationship reveals differences in material and immaterial structures. At the beginning of the integration process, it is important that society offers premises and financial resources as well as openness to new cultures. On the other hand, asylum seekers need to be willing to learn the new language and actively participate in society. The integration process is also dependent on the asylum seekers’ well-being and the experiences they have had in the community. In order for a successful integration, it is necessary to provide migrants with both immaterial and material structures. Experts emphasized the importance of both material and immaterial aspects to define a successful integration process. Financial resources promote integration projects and provide premises for exchange and interaction with other people. Experiences of racism and discrimination in society make the integration process more difficult for asylum seekers.

It appeared that some experts encountered difficulty in providing a clear and consistent definition of integration. Consequently, the term may be perceived as somewhat ambiguous and inconsistent among experts. Despite this lack of consensus, there is a notable degree of agreement and a uniform representation of integration among experts.

Integration is a process which can only work with cooperation between the asylum seeker and the local society. A certain degree of adaptation is necessary on both sides, although this should not lead to assimilation. Asylum seekers should aim to form connections with their new society without making efforts to change their identity. Both material and immaterial structures are necessary to provide sufficient opportunities for the integration process and enable a harmonious and comfortable life together.

The importance of perceptions

The experts’ perceptions on integration are significant as they provide important insights based on their varied experiences. These insights underline why integration is a complex and comprehensive term, making it even more important for politicians and the general public to gain insights into its actual meaning.

Still, the results from the interviews are subject to limitations, as they provide only one perspective in a two-way process: The asylum seekers’ voices are largely absent, yet they are essential for a full understanding of integration. Future studies should examine the input of asylum seekers, then link and compare the results to the presented findings from this research.