This edited book presents the situation for refugees – or, more precisely, for beneficiaries of international protection – in Hungary, primarily through policy interpretations of the concept of social integration. The topic is of particular relevance in the Hungarian context: the refugee protection system has been almost completely dismantled in recent years, and in many respects is not in line with international and European asylum standards. The political and public discourse in Hungary is strongly anti-refugee, which may easily lead to the impression that there is no integration of refugees in the Hungarian context. This publication serves to add some nuance to that impression, demonstrating that professional questions about social integration still can and should be raised. It also shows that such questions can be answered in a meaningful, well-founded way in Hungary, leading to open debate and further reflection.

The book is the result of six years of research. The studies within it use the indicators produced by the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) project to provide the broader context for their analysis. NIEM describes and evaluates the social integration of beneficiaries of international protection in fourteen EU countries, using measurable and quantifiable indicators.

Each study complements and deepens the results and findings of national reports and international comparative analyses that are based on the NIEM indicators. They are designed to be read as stand-alone documents, but the editorial intention for the book is that it also forms a logical whole. The first half of the volume presents a more general analysis of the social integration of individuals and groups granted international protection; the second comprises studies that focus on a specific policy area. It is aimed at both those wanting to know more about refugees and asylum in general and those approaching the issue from a specific policy perspective (such as employment, education, housing, or healthcare).