Mainstreaming versus Alienation

The book "Mainstreaming versus Alienation" by Peter Scholten examines the role of complexity in the governance of migration and diversity. It demonstrates that current political processes often fail to adequately capture this complexity. Instead, they tend to favor quick solutions that lead to various forms of alienation, including problematic, institutional, political, and social alienation. Scholten draws on insights from gender and environmental governance to develop the concept of "mainstreaming." This concept views migration as a conditional and emergent process made up of complex networks of actors, rather than as a universal policy model. By understanding and responding to this complexity, migration research can contribute to reflexivity in political processes, promote mainstreaming, and prevent alienation. The book is aimed at students and scholars of migration and governance studies, with a focus on political decision-making and integration.