Based on China’s fundamental national conditions of multi-ethnic coexistence and the normalization of population mobility, this study systematically analyzes the current state, core challenges, and underlying causes of social integration in multi-ethnic communities under the backdrop of population mobility. It reviews the experiences and limitations of typical practice models, constructs a four-dimensional social integration pathway encompassing “cultural coexistence, social connectivity, pluralistic co-governance, and identity recognition,” and provides in-depth explanations of the intrinsic logic and practical value of each integration pathway from the perspective of ethnic sociology, incorporating key theories such as multiculturalism, social capital, and individual socialization. The research reveals that multi-ethnic community social integration faces four major challenges: cultural misunderstanding, ethnic isolation, governance inefficiency, and identity ambiguity, which result from the synergistic effects of cultural, social, governance, and individual multidimensional factors. The constructed four-dimensional integration pathway, with its interdependent and synergistic mechanisms, can effectively address superficial integration challenges and promote a deeper transformation in social integration. This study enriches research in ethnic sociology and community integration, offering theoretical support and practical guidance for the harmonious development of multi-ethnic communities, the adjustment of ethnic relations, and the cultivation of a sense of community for the Chinese nation in the new era.

Hui Fan, Xuezhong Zhou. Social Integration Pathways in Multi-Ethnic Communities under the Context of Population Mobility and Ethnic Sociology Interpretation. International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 73-79. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFS.2026.080109.

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