CVEK

The book “Slovakia and Migration. Searching for Ways to Coexistence” brings a number of interesting research findings that allow us to look at coexistence in a diverse society both professionally and humanly. The publication is the result of a two-year research project on the integration of foreigners in Slovakia, in which we conducted 2 representative quantitative surveys (among foreigners and the majority population), 1 questionnaire survey at the level of district towns, 56 individual interviews with integration actors at the local level, 9 focus groups with the majority population and 50 individual interviews with foreigners living in Slovakia.

This mosaic of research thus looks at the topic of inclusion of foreigners comprehensively from different perspectives. In the publication we point out that public administration institutions are still not prepared for the topic of integration. People with a migration background are invisible in public policies. Migration is resisted by the public and seen more as a threat than an opportunity. Mutual contacts with foreigners, however, greatly contribute to changing attitudes and better coexistence. For foreigners, Slovakia is a small and peaceful country where a good life can be lived. We have the potential to develop, but we are prevented from doing so by our closed attitude to diversity.

The book offers suggestions for improving public policies and promoting coexistence. Thus, policy makers, academics, other actors, and ordinary people interested in the kind of country we live in will find useful information in it.

The publication is an output of the project Research on the Integration of Foreigners – Barriers, Tools and Attitudes, which is co-financed by the European Union from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. Funds for Home Affairs.