Against the backdrop of a broader backlash against the idea of multiculturalism that marked the last decade, immigrant integration has become a buzzword in both European political discourse and in social research. The notion of integration—conceived as a framework for resolving the ‘ethnic dilemmas’ of nation-states under conditions of cultural diversity—enjoys broad approval, both in the academic realm and in society at large. Yet it remains an essentially contested concept, with some seeing it as a pathway to inclusion, while others arguing that it does more harm than good. Siding with the latter camp, this book examines the idea of integration as it emerges across the domains of research and EU policy, as well as at their intersections in research-policy collaborative configurations. This chapter sets the scene for the book by introducing the topic, outlining the sites of inquiry and the framework of analysis, and summarizing the content of the chapters.