Integration of immigrants in the North is becoming a controversial issue among people. Even though the policies of northern countries often emphasize the importance of having more people in society to fulfil future population and regional development needs, the amount of research into this area is comparatively small.
Who will be the future residents of the North? How can the geographically remote and sparsely populated North be able to associate and deal with people from outside the region?
Population geography patterns across the North manifest an urgent need to study further human geography to work out the lives and activities of people with diverse cultural backgrounds and residing in the region.
The relationships of (im)migrants with space, place, climate, communities, and people include everyday challenges that people must address when integrating into northern society.
Experiences of contributing to society are essential for the process of integration. Population trends between societies vary considerably, as some societies enable easier integration than others.
The multidisciplinary special dossier includes six articles from international researchers and accentuates a set of core geographical concepts and their impact on immigration phenomena. The dossier is published as a part of Migration Letters Volume 20, Number 4 and it is openly available at their website.
Further information
Nafisa Yeasmin, Visiting Researcher, University of Lapland, nafisa.yeasmin@ulapland.fi, p. +358 40 484 4256
Elli Heikkilä, Research Director Emerita, Migration Institute, elli.heikkila@migrationinstitute.fi, p. +358 40 069 5452
Satu Uusiautti, Professor, Vice-rector, University of Lapland, satu.uusiautti@ulapland.fi, p. +358 40 484 4150