Territorial dynamics and local reception of the asylum seekers in rural spaces and small towns

Abstract

Since the “long summer of migration” in 2015, the reception of asylum seekers in France has increasingly depended on non-metropolitan areas, which have expanded their reception capacities. These areas, often considered ‘left-behind places’ with more fragile capacity for action, are playing an increasing role in the reception of asylum seekers. This paper explores how the territorial diversity in these areas leads to a variety of the local reception dynamics at the municipal level. Our analysis is based on both quantitative and qualitative methods, using an unprecedented database provided by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Directorate for the Economy, Employment, Labour, and Solidarity in 2023, along with semi-structured interviews with local actors. The research reveals that, the reception of asylum seekers outside metropolitan areas is far from homogeneous, varying according to the specific characteristics of each municipality.