Multi-level governance revisited: entrance of the regional level in immigrant integration policies

Research on migrant integration governance in Europe highlights the devolution of responsibility across government levels and actors. While the concept of ‘multi-level governance’ (MLG) captures these interactions, it has been criticized for emphasizing collaboration and vertical relations while overlooking conflicts, horizontal dynamics, and the evolution of governance structures. Moreover, the regional level's role in migrant integration and its interactions with the local level remain understudied. Using Germany as a case study, we examine how the regional level interacts with the local level and why particular dynamics have developed. Our findings reveal that the regional state has gained a significant yet ambiguous role in migrant policymaking marked by intensified – and at times conflictual – interactions both within and between these levels. These governance dynamics are shaped by institutional and temporal contexts, values and frames, and political orientation, offering deeper insights into the complexities of migrant integration at multiple levels.