Inna Melnykovska1; 1 Central European University, Austria
Discussion
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has triggered an unprecedented influx of forced migrants into EU countries, significantly impacting host countries such as Germany. While participatory governance is anticipated to enhance migration policies by promoting inclusivity, responsiveness, and social cohesion, the application of participatory governance in crisis settings reveals significant variations. Germany’s decentralized migration policy has led to regionally and locally varied approaches in accommodating forced migrants, with distinct policy regimes and differing modes of including civil society and migrant voices in the governance process. Focusing on selected German cities, this paper examines the governance practices influencing forced migrant accommodation and integration policies. It identifies state actors and civil society stakeholders (including migrant organizations) involved in these governance practices and analyzes the interactions and power dynamics between them.
Specifically, the paper investigates extra-electoral modes of participation – such as consultative institutions, coalition-building with pro-immigrants’ organizations, demonstrations, and petitions – and assesses the extent to which these avenues have empowered (or limited) Ukrainian forced migrants' agency in shaping local accommodation and integration policies and practices. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how local adaptive governance measures respond to the multiple pressures that the Russian-Ukrainian war brings across the EU, offering insights into the limitations and potential of participatory governance under conditions of severe disruptions.
