With the drama of the French expulsion of thousands of ethnic Roma from its country still playing out, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel recently made remarks about her own country's uncomfortableness with its population changes. In a recent speech, Merkel lamented that "the approach [to build] a multicultural [society] and to live side-by-side and to enjoy each other... has failed, utterly failed." During the speech, she played to both sides of the argument, saying that immigrants are welcome and benefit German society, but also added that they need to do more to integrate, such as learning to speak German.
This article reminds me very starkly of the ongoing immigration debate here in America, specifically the proposed legislation in Arizona. The article also refers to comments made by German officials connecting immigrants with crime and abuses of state welfare programs. The anti-immigrant sentiment seems to be a widespread phenomenon both in Europe and here at home. I wonder what you think about why this is?
I'm disturbed by the effects that the comments Mrs. Merkel made could have. When the leader of a country proclaims that multiculturalism doesn't work, it is bound to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. She has essentially given Germans permission to stop believing that living side-by-side with people from other nations and cultures can end in prosperous coexistence. Like most things in life, positive multiculturalism takes effort to achieve. But you won't put forth enough effort if you truly don't believe what you are working for is possible. If you don't believe you can finish a marathon, then of course, you can't. The same holds true for building a multicultural society. Merkel has just dealt a great blow to her nation's belief in the usefulness of continuing to strive for multiculturalism by making disbelief the official government position. As influential as Germany is in the European sphere, immigrants all over Europe should be chilled by these comments from her and other German officials. Taken together with France's expulsion of the Roma, it seems that Europe is changing direction on how it deals with diversity. I, for one, am deeply disturbed. What are you reactions?
BBC article (better)
CNN article
A prominent leader making such a brash statement on this subject is setting a horrible precedent and example to the world, and even more it demonstrates ignorance and insensitivity for the causes of migration in the first place.
ReplyDeleteMost people move into a developed country such as Germany or the U.S. to seek economic opportunity, and also to seek refuge from political oppression or otherwise. While people leaving developed countries might go on a holiday to a gated resort, many of those citizens could not imagine leaving their home out of necessity. To express intolerance to multiculturalism displays a disgusting arrogance, as if by being born into a prosperous and stable country was somehow divinely ordained, and therefore civil rights and means to survive were not an equal right to all.
People do not arrive at the borders and shores of developed countries because they imagine a harmonious multi-cultural society in which they can attend performances and try new food. They go out of necessity for the betterment of themselves and their families. The overwhelming majority of them live quietly, obeying the law and trying to preserve some semblance of their life before in their homeland. Perhaps if their presence is so inconvenient, more efforts should be made to form stability and opportunity in more than just a handful of countries in the world, and the practices and policies that prevent that from happening should be reexamined.
Thanks for the post Roshan. German’s and Germany is a tricky nation when it comes to developing a multicultural society. As you said, with statements about the failure of multiculturism, the Germans do create a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, I think it is a self-fulfilling prophecy of which Germans are fully aware and accepting. Many Germans may genuinely not be interested in living in a multicultural nation.
ReplyDeleteWe all know what Germans have a history of keeping Germany for “Germans” from World War II, but there are many other examples of times when Germany has tried to expel others from its borders. After WWII many migrant workers from Turkey came to Germany to rebuild the country after the war. In the early 90s, many of those “Gastarbeiter” or guest workers were offered payment from the German government to leave and never return. This was another xenophobic move by the German government to create Nationalism.
Many of the Turks in Germany have lived and worked there for generations and are never considered German citizens, even those who are citizens, will always be “Auslaender” or foreigners. They have poured their lives into Germany and are never even recognized or given any rights in return. In Germany, I asked my professor about citizenship and the rights of minorities in Germany and she said they aren’t given rights because the nation will not designate them as a minority. She said, “When we start to recognize minorities like they do in the U.S. we will have to give them rights.” I was shocked about this attitude, but it seems to be prevalent around the nation. One possible explanation for this attitude is nationalism. True nationalism isn’t really seen in the US the way it can be seen in Europe, especially in the Balkans.
Wikipedia says nationalism ‘involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. Often, it is the belief that an ethnic group has a right to statehood,[1] or that citizenship in a state should be limited to one ethnic group, or that multinationality in a single state should necessarily comprise the right to express and exercise national identity even by minorities.
This definition includes different ethnicities, but oftentimes Nationalism is starkly divided by ethnicities.
I was so glad you posted this because I couldn't believe it when I first heard the news stories. However, I just found a more recent BBC article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11532699) that explains that everyone is getting really upset about what she said, but that the entire story isn't being publicized.
ReplyDeleteApparently, she also said, "We should not be a country either which gives the impression to the outside world that those who don't speak German immediately or who were not raised speaking German are not welcome here. That would do great damage to our country." According to this BBC article, "her basic message is that integration has not worked - but it needs to."
I still don't agree with all of her comments, but I also think it's interesting how the media is only talking about a few lines of her speech instead of the entire thing. They seem to be fueling the controversy.
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ReplyDeleteSince we are talking about Germany I thought I would share a case that happened a year ago. I couldn't help it but the thought of Germany's attempt to 'multiculturalism' is almost laughable. My best friend is half white German and lives there, and I visited her seven years ago or so. Germans and many Europeans have very superficial discourses on race, and ethnicity. At least that was what was apparent to me as I spoke with the Germans I met while there.
ReplyDeleteI have a theory I'm sure I will one day publish about the differing histories with People of Color in Europe versus People of Color in the United States. Colonies off shore form different identities when their peoples live within the borders of a country then do colonies that are are on domestic lands.
Either way, this story that I'm sharing is problematic because an Egyptian woman sues a man for discrimination and THEN the courts watch him kill her in front of their eyes. Not only does he manage to kill her by stabbing, he stabs her husband too, and the police manage to shoot the husband instead. I think the way the whole incident unfolded constitutes a problem.
When I was in Germany MTV Europe was on, and a Black German DJ was presenting a show. My friend looked at me and laughed, she said that most 'Germans' were 'shocked' to find out there were Black Germans in Germany. I wonder how we can be blinded by our own ethno-centricity so easily.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/26/germany.egypt/
I came across this article as well and I was glad to see that you posted it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is our job to think about how this event, and the Roma people, can be used to push an agenda.
I think ethinic identity as organic to who you are; the community you were born in, how your family history and stories influence who you are etc. Nationalism, on the other hand is more a part of a constructed identity, which can be used to "rally the troops" for nationalist purposes.
Food for thought:
1)Who holds the power?
2)How is it being threatened?
3)How is emotion being used to color the discourse and push a nationalist agenda??
Read this related article, and remark by the mayor about Gypsies
ReplyDeleteArticle: Italy is closing the door on gypsies.
Claim: '"These are dark-skinned people, not Europeans like you and me," said Riccardo De Corato, who is Milan's vice mayor from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's ruling party and who is in charge of handling the camps. He later added: "Our final goal is to have zero Gypsy camps in Milan."'
Agenda?:"The immigration debate in Europe, just as in the United States, has dramatically intensified in the wake of the Great Recession, with voters increasingly blaming immigrants such as the Roma for taking away jobs, driving up crime rates and disturbing time-honored traditions."
The Roma side of things: "Privately, even some in Triboniano say the camp maintains an unemployment rate of more than 60 percent and is home to some engaging in criminal activity. But Ilie, a carpenter who left Romania for Italy with his family in 1999, said Roma are being painted with a broad brush and that many, like him, are eager to integrate.
His children — Ana Maria, 16, and Luigi, 11 — no longer speak their native dialect. Both go to Italian schools and have Italian friends. "I don't care what happens to this camp anymore; what I care about is my family," he said. "We want to integrate, but they won't give us the chance.""
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013173780_italyroma17.html
First I want to say that comments like that of Mrs. Merkel and many who commented on the article are reasons why many of us have entered into this program. We are the ones who can make a difference in progress toward multiculturalism. The article was very disturbing to me because comments by a government official will reinforce any anti-immigration feelings in Germany. I wish Merkel would have at least proposed some way to change the current situation. She comes across as simply saying, 'we tried, it didn't work, lets give up.' No attempt whatsoever of trying to figure out WHY it’s not working. It shows a lot of arrogance on the government's part. Anyone who has lived in a foreign country can empathize with foreigners living in Germany, wanting to associate with the familiar, where they feel, safe and understood. They cannot be blames for not wanting to integrate into the society that is so harshly discriminating against them.
ReplyDeleteI also want to add that it is unfair for Mrs. Merkel to make comments regarding foreigners going to Germany for word and not leaving. Why is it ok for them to take German jobs (probably those that Germans don't want) and yet it is not ok for them to establish themselves in the country?
I think it is terrible for such statements to be made especially by public figures in 2010. I think German officials need to at least define what is going wrong and figure out how to improve mutual respect and understanding among the different cultures residing in Germany. It might take decades but anything is better than publicly discriminating against minority groups.