Skilled vs. Cultural: Key Strategies for the Integration of Young Immigrants from Rural Regions in the Context of Social Conservatism

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a call for papers for a Special Issue focusing on the integration of young immigrants from rural regions, addressing the complex interaction between skill-based and cultural strategies in a socio-political landscape increasingly influenced by social conservatism.

Migration has long been a defining characteristic of human societies, shaping economies, cultures, and communities. In recent years, rural regions have become starting points for integrating young immigrants, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. These areas often face labor gaps, which immigrants can help to address, but also struggle with the socio-cultural integration of newcomers. As rightward political trends continue to advance in many countries, policies and attitudes towards immigrants are becoming more polarized, raising critical questions about effective integration strategies. Research in this field is essential for understanding how to foster social cohesion while meeting economic needs, particularly in rural settings where resources and infrastructure may be limited. Exploring the balance between skill-based integration—aligning immigrant capabilities with labor market demands—and cultural strategies—promoting mutual understanding and acceptance—is critically important. By addressing these dynamics, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and practices that enhance integration outcomes in rural communities, even amidst shifting political landscapes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to advance scholarly understanding and provide actionable insights into the integration of young immigrants in rural regions, focusing on both skill-based and cultural approaches. By examining these strategies within the context of socio-political shifts, this Special Issue seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion—key themes that align closely with the scope of Societies. This Special Issue fits within the journal's interdisciplinary scope by engaging with societal questions that span labor markets, cultural assimilation, social constructions of identity, and the dynamics of political change. It also addresses challenges and opportunities for local, glocal, and global societies, as well as the health and wellbeing of communities over time. By fostering a nuanced understanding of these intersections, the issue aligns with Societies’ commitment to publishing impactful research that engages with both existing and emerging societal questions.

As societies struggle with the challenges and opportunities presented by immigration, rural regions often become starting points for discussions on integration policies. The intersection of labor market demands, cultural assimilation, and political shifts poses unique challenges for the integration of young immigrants. This Special Issue seeks to explore innovative strategies, empirical studies, and theoretical insights that can illuminate the dynamics of integrating young immigrants within rural communities, balancing skilled labor requirements with cultural considerations.

We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Labor Market Integration: Approaches to matching young immigrants’ skills with rural employment opportunities.
• Cultural Assimilation vs. Multiculturalism: The role of cultural initiatives and community engagement in fostering inclusion.
• Political and Policy Dimensions: Analysis of rightward political shifts and their impact on rural integration strategies.
• Social Capital and Networks: The role of social connections in facilitating or hindering integration.
• Education and Training: Programs and interventions tailored to young immigrants in rural areas.
• Case Studies: Comparative analyses of successful integration models across different countries or regions in Europe.

Submission Guidelines: Manuscripts should adhere to the journal’s formatting and submission guidelines. Papers should be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure high-quality contributions.

In this Special Issue, Contributions have to follow one of the three categories of papers, article, conceptual paper or review, of the journal and address the topic of the Special Issue.

Dr. Vladislava Lendzhova
Dr. Rumyana Popova
Prof. Dr. Emre Erdoğan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• young immigrants
• youth justice
• migration policy
• rural integration
• cultural strategies
• skill-based approaches
• labor market integration
• social inclusion strategies
• diversity and equity
• immigration policies
• social conservatism
• equity and diversity