Abstract
Social capital and social networks can have a positive effect on the integration of migrants and on labour market integration in particular (Portes 1995; Chou and Chow 2009: 341; Cheung and Phillimore 2013; Morosanu 2016). Moreover, the involved public agencies and private organizations at the local and regional level play a decisive role, by being the closest actors dealing directly with migrants and the challenges of integration (Mitterhofer et al. 2016; Gruber 2012). To understand the complex system of services and offers with which migrants are welcomed and integrated in the Alpine region, we conducted a study on what characterizes governance and networks of cooperation involved in the issue by looking at the type of actors, the characteristics of the relations, the topics and the aims of the cooperation. To conduct the research, the methodology of social network analysis was applied in eleven case study areas of the Alpine region, basing on primary data collected through interviews and surveys at the municipal and district level within the framework of the Alpine Space Project PlurAlps. The results of the analysis show that in the twelve case study areas, mainly public sector agencies and third sector organizations are involved. Of particular interest, some innovative experiences are emerging from the cooperation within the study areas, helping migrants to overcome barriers of socio-economic integration in the community. The paper will present some statistical correlations among the variables to draw conclusions about common and diverging characteristics of governance and networks among the case study areas. Moreover, a successful experience of cooperation among the public and the third sector organization for the social and labour integration of asylum seekers in a mountain community will be analysed in depth, in order in order to reflect on innovative strategies and tools adopted.
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