Social Integration: Conceptual Foundations and Open Questions. An Introduction to this Special Issue

Abstract Is the social integration of contemporary Western societies at risk? We will not provide an answer to this question, which is high on political agenda. Instead, in our introduction special issue, we first offer conceptual clarifications. What a theoretically sound and empirically useful understanding modern societies? Second, ask three basic questions for adequate answers have yet been found: (1) How generated? That is, what are its central mechanisms? (2) functionally necessary precondition societies, as concerns about erosion suggest? Or it goal itself, that normatively desirable state? (3) dark side integration, i.e., unintended or tacitly accepted effects society, individual members, particular groups?