Immigrants, markets and policies in Southern Europe. The making of an immigration model?

The authors skilfully synthesise the immense research and new findings pertaining to four countries – Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal (Arango, Bonifazi, Finotelli, Peixoto, Sabino, Strozza & Triandafyllidou 2009). They refer to earlier comparative analyses of immigration experiences in Southern European countries with the intention of testing their validity and updating them. In the analysis, They focus on the phenomenon of irregular migration, the mechanisms of migrant workers’ insertion in the labour market and migration policy responses. Special attention is paid to regularisation policies, executed – typical for Southern countries – ex post, as well as to their effectiveness and social costs. Through cross-country analysis, the authors scrupulously examine various aspects of migration related experiences, tracking signs of both regional homogeneity and diversity. Despite the differences with regard to timing, quantity and types of migrant flows or to policy tools, ultimately, they seem to be convinced that a ‘Southern model’ does exist. They stress, however, that the model is dynamic because with time it acquires ever-new dimensions and meanings and includes new social frameworks and new policy instruments.