The arrival of Ukrainian refugees as an opportunity to advance migrant integration policy

The Czech Republic has received the largest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita. An underdeveloped migrant integration policy and limited experience with large numbers of refugees hampered the Czechs' willingness to help. The reception phase relied heavily on crisis teams, volunteers, and civil society organizations. Accommodating structural measures became necessary. This article takes a closer look at these changes and explains how the large number of Ukrainian refugees constitutes an external shock that has shaped Czech migrant integration policy in several key aspects. We also examine the role of international organizations in shaping migrant integration policy. We use the research framework of historical institutionalism, applying retrograde analysis, desk research and deep semi-structured interviews. Our results show that migration policy has been skewed in the short-term towards better acceptance of migrants, but we can identify a tendency towards a return to the original trajectory. We also find that international organizations have not had a substantial influence on recent changes in migrant integration policy; domestic actors have had a much greater influence.

Automated summary

The Czech Republic has received the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita, but their underdeveloped migrant integration policy and limited experience with large numbers of refugees hindered their willingness to help. The initial phase of reception depended heavily on crisis teams, volunteers, and civil society organizations, and structural measures were necessary to accommodate the influx. The study shows that while the short-term migration policy has leaned towards better acceptance of migrants, there is a tendency to return to the original trajectory. Additionally, international organizations have had minimal influence on recent changes in migrant integration policy compared to domestic actors.