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Abstract

This article frames and introduces the contributions to a special issue. Their focus is on France and Germany, not only two major immigration countries in Europe, but also countries where local authorities have a relatively strong position within the state structure. While other studies have often focused on policy declarations, the eight articles in this special issue provide rich evidence on the content and implementation of policies. Furthermore, several articles offer theoretical insights into the factors driving or hindering policies that acknowledge socio-cultural heterogeneity, ensure more equality and inclusive public services. Results of a project at the Göttingen Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity are presented together with other contributions. The introduction concludes with reflections on the difficulties of “intercultural” communication among scholars and comparison of France and Germany.