The Influence of the Host Country Local Characteristics at the Immigrants Integration

Abstract

This research was conducted to examine the influence of the host country local characteristics at the integration of immigrants. The study has been focused at Siena province in Italy and the case of the Albanian immigrants has been examined. 36 Albanian immigrants were invited to participate in the in-depth interviewing process. 21 others have participated at 4 focus groups. The findings revealed that the provincial characteristics influence the immigrants way of integration. The level of social “closeness” of a locality, determined by historical, geographical, demographical, social and cultural factors, create the climate that influences the integration process of immigrants at that locality.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n4p331