Migration als Potenzial der kommunalen Entwicklung – Lokale Ansätze zur Unterstützung von ökonomischen Akteuren mit Migrationshintergrund

The perception of immigration to Germany in the media, public discourse, and political debates is ambivalent. One perspective stresses the problems of immigration by characterising migrant settings as “parallel societies” inhabited by people who are reluctant to integrate into the receiving society. On the other hand—and with a particular focus on demographic change and the economic sustainability of the Federal Republic of Germany—the presence of migrants is increasingly seen as a source of valuable contributions. This paper elaborates on such perceptions of migrants as assets. Informed by an internet based study the paper explores in how far local authorities in Germany acknowledge and support the potential contributions of migrant populations to local and regional development processes. Our findings reveal that attempts to tap into the potential of migrant communities are largely restricted to big cities. Outside major agglomerations migrants tend to be primarily seen in the light of their assumed need for support to integrate into local job markets and societies. The focus then is on education and social policy issues rather than the promotion of economic or urban development. Drawing on these findings, we argue that migrant economies in particular bear considerable, yet hardly recognized resources for urban and regional development. Policies geared towards the targeted support of economic actors with migratory backgrounds would help to mobilize these resources.