“Seeing like integration”: an exploratory study of Bergamo’s integration model, Italy

The “refugee crisis” has drawn attention to the role of cities (local authorities) in asylum seekers and refugees' reception and integration processes, with many developing creative and innovative policies. The article explores the integration outcomes of the asylum seekers who participated in a peculiar local experimental integration model, “l'Accademia per l’Integrazione” [Integration Academy], in a somewhat “progressive” mid-sized city of Bergamo (Italy). Using a “scout/militaristic” approach, the model seeks to lay the foundation for asylum seekers’ successful integration upon arrival through obligatory “socially useful” work, language acquisition and civics, traineeships and possible employment placement. The results indicate questionable integration outcomes. This exploratory study shows that the national migration legal framework stifles the city’s conceptualization of integration of asylum seekers starting from arrival. The findings have implications for migration and local integration policy.