Migration, integration – Fear of strangers?

Dialogue forum held on 12 May 2011

Some 16 million people living in Germany are of immigrant origin. Although many fully participate in community life, integration can undeniably pose problems. How can the integration process be speeded up? What obstacles stand in its way? This was the topic discussed at the fifth and final Dialogue Forum of 2011 by Aygül Özkan, the first person of immigrant descent to hold a ministerial post in a German state, and Cumali Naz, who chaired Munich’s Advisory Board for the Immigrant Population for several years. The overall theme of the series was “Where from? Where to? Demography and migration”.‏

Who are the members of the population group with immigrant origins? The group comprises people who have moved to Germany since 1955 and their offspring. They now account for a substantial share of Germany’s economic output, and an above-average percentage of them are self-employed. Although only a relatively small number have problems integrating, they are the ones who determine the way the public perceives the situation. Özkan deplored the fact that “we always talk about the negative aspects”, whereas we ought to be doing the very opposite. “Young people need role models. They need to see that it’s worthwhile for them to play their part in shaping the future.” The message that to make something of your life you have to have good qualifications and be prepared to make an effort is far more effective than criticism. For instance, Lower Saxony, where Özkan has been Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Family, Health and Integration since 2010, deliberately seeks to attract immigrants to the police force and the teaching profession.
 
Language: Key to success
 
Employment does not just have a social significance. It also means being involved in the community. Özkan: “Regrettably, we did not succeed in integrating all the children and grandchildren of the first generation of immigrants so that they had the same opportunities”. This is not because they are less gifted. “Children are not, per se, more or less intelligent because they come from a certain part of the world.” It tends more to be due to a lack of incentives and encouragement. That is the main issue and language is the key. “If they don’t have the language skills children are doomed to lag behind, and they get caught up in a vicious circle.” Consequently, it is important that children learn to speak German long before they start school. We could also consider introducing a training “pact” to help people from immigrant families to make a start.
 
Munich is an example of how an integration policy can be made to work, and the city is always at the top end in nationwide comparisons. Naz, who was Chairman of Munich’s Advisory Board for the Immigrant Population from 1998 to 2010, said: “The subject of integration has a long history here”. A balanced social and economic policy and applying the principle of a socio-geographical urban planning mix paves the way to success. Naz noted: “There are only five out of the city’s 25 urban districts where the percentage of foreigners is slightly above average”. This is one of the reasons why no social trouble spots arise. Other factors favouring successful integration are the intercultural accessibility of the municipal authorities, language courses and anti-discrimination measures.
 
Local-election voting rights for foreigners – A bone of contention
 
However, there is still room for improvement in the case of the district councils, where immigrant representation is low. Naz: “We need to take access to the political decision-making structures more seriously”. He also believes more needs to be done to extend local-election voting rights to foreigners. Some 310,000 people in Munich have non-German passports; 120,000 of these come from EU states. The remainder are not entitled to vote because they come from non-EU countries. Naz: “Unfortunately, this is a federal concern. The Bundestag would have to amend the constitution”. However, this requires a two-thirds majority and Özkan, a lawyer, does not believe such a target is possible: “The mainstream political parties have always held the view – and here I would agree with them – that the right to vote is intrinsically linked to nationality.” Whether to become a citizen of the adoptive country or not is a decision that each and every individual has to take.
 
Many are already doing just that, and more and more people are applying for German citizenship. Other trends, like the growing number who own their homes, show that many people of immigrant origin have chosen Germany as their main place of residence. “Integration takes time and patience, to give people an opportunity to identify with the country”, Naz explained. He believes that we need to focus more on the things we have in common than on our cultural and religious differences.  
 
Integration is not a one-sided affair
 
Özkan: “Integration means overcoming your foreignness”. If we can identify the things we have in common in the way we live, our origins do not matter. But integration is not a one-sided affair. “The approach must come from both sides. The state can provide the basic framework but no amount of legislation can ensure integration actually takes place.” Özkan believes that we are on the right track and that substantial progress will be made on integration in the next five to ten years. We need to see the opportunities instead of pointing out the problems. “But that’s part of our mentality as Germans. We tend to be overcautious and take the view that the glass is half empty rather than half full.” Özkan believes that the system will cease to function without integration. “Demographic change will lead to labour shortages that the German market alone will not be able to meet.” A successful integration policy is bound to play an increasingly prominent role in the years ahead.