Urban migration policymaking: Governing diversity in Wrocław

In recent decades, migration has become a focus of political debate and public discourse at many levels – from the European to the national to the local. However, it has been cities – and not nation states – that have gained greater importance and agency in the management of rising human mobility, as they often become hotspots of migrant arrivals. The metropolis of Wrocław (Poland), which has become a major destination for migrants and refugees, represents an interesting case through which to explore how local actors – the municipality, NGOs and other organizations – have dealt with the challenge of governing migration and diversity, especially given the lack of strategic migration policy at the national level. Based on expert interviews and a thematic analysis of various documents, this article analyses policymaking at the local level, in particular the factors that shape the process. Using an integrated approach, we identify historical legacies, specific city policies and politics, and the construction of a “city” identity narrative that have shaped the local governance of migration and diversity. Locating our work at the intersection of migration and urban studies, we provide a careful assessment of Wrocław’s recent migration challenges and modes of governance, characteristic of many non-capital cities.