Overcoming Barriers to a Multicultural Society

Project facts

Project promoter:
University of the Peloponnese -ELKE
Project Number:
GR07-0012
Target groups
Migrants for settlement
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€142,412
Final project cost:
€139,541
From EEA Grants:
€ 118,610
The project is carried out in:
Greece

More information

Description

The project is based on the hypothesis that migrants have knowledge and ideas and can act as bridges between distant countries. It intends to highlight the largely hidden and unexplored potential of migrant communities in Greece and also identify the formal and informal barriers that inhibit them from becoming sources of ideas and innovation and from creating transnational networks that can be beneficial for both the host country and their countries of origin. It particularly aims to identify the causes of the failure of both the Greek state and private actors to discover and mobilize this hidden potential of migrants. The project focuses on educational and labour market barriers to explain this failure. It claims that by overcoming these barriers, not only migrants could be integrated into the Greek economy and society much more effectively but also Greece can escape from an indoor mentality and become more internationalised. In turn, Greeks could overcome widely-held xenophobic perceptions and see migrants more positively, not as threats but as enrichers of their society and culture. This will help the country to move away from the exclusiveness of ethnic nationalism towards multiculturalism. Τhe aim of the project is to help public and private actors in Greece to promote and maintain the distinct identities of migrants.

Summary of project results

The project was required due to the non-succesful integration of migrants within the Greek society. This is due to a series of existing barriers affecting the integration process and which in turn renders Greek society less prone into accepting migrants whithin itself - giving also rise to xenofobic views. The project led to a clear identification and analysis of relevant barriers as well as the formulation of specific policy proposals. A series of workshops and publications have enhanced awareness on the issue. The research focused on the thorough analysis of the barriers decreasing the ability of migrants to more efficiently integration within the Greek society. Through the use of a variety of research tools (questionnaies, focus groups, desk research, analysis of secondary data, ethnographic research, etc) the research team gather a wide volume of data which in turn led to the production of a number of deliverables all building upon the reintroduction of the migrant issue in Greece from a more positive perspective. Deliverables include (a) academic articles that enriched current social research in Greece with new viewpoints, (b) policy proposals that infused new ideas of the potential role of migrants within the Greek society and economy to government officials, migrant associations, private companies, NGOs and various stakeholders and decision makers and (c) an edited volume in Greek that will further disseminate gained knowledge to the wider public. The project has led to a more conscious Greek academia as well as policy officers on the barriers affecting migrants' integration. The relevant literature was substantial enriched and a dialogue on the subject matter has been commenced. Furthermore, the set of policy proposals has set some loght on potential solutions to the problems identified.

Summary of bilateral results