How is the civic “we” formed? Symbolic inclusion tools in integration policy
In the context of intense international migration and increasing ethnocultural diversity, the integration of migrants has become an important issue for public policy. While existing research primarily focuses on the socio-economic and legal dimensions of integration, less attention has been paid to the mechanisms through which migrants develop a sense of belonging to the host society. This study addresses this gap by examining symbolic inclusion as a set of institutionalized practices aimed at fostering civic belonging through values, historical narratives, collective memory, and public symbolic actions. The novelty of the study lies in its comparative analysis of integration policies through the lens of symbolic inclusion and in identifying different models of institutionalizing civic belonging. The research is based on a qualitative comparative analysis of Germany, Canada, and Australia, complemented by the cases of France and the United Kingdom to highlight the limitations of existing approaches. The analysis draws on policy documents, citizenship and integration materials, public programs, and museum and memorial practices. The findings show that different countries employ a similar set of instruments, including language and civic courses, citizenship tests, naturalization procedures, citizenship ceremonies, museums, and memory practices. However, their content and functions vary significantly. Germany emphasizes constitutional values and historical responsibility, Canada combines multiculturalism with a shared national narrative, and Australia promotes belonging through civic values and public recognition of cultural diversity. The French and British cases demonstrate the limitations of alternative approaches to symbolic inclusion. The study concludes that the effectiveness of symbolic inclusion depends less on the presence of specific instruments than on their substantive content and their capacity to create a coherent framework of civic belonging.
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This article is an output of the research project HSE-BR-2026-013 "Civic Identity and Traditional Values: Historical Models in Communication Practice", implemented as part of the Basic Research Program at HSE University.