Germany’s discourse about multiculturalism is marked by its contrariness. On the one hand, there are many attempts to implement the theory of multiculturalism in political practice. The slogan of Berlin’s integration concept in 2007 ‘Vielfalt Fördern – Zusammenhalt Stärken’ (Supporting Diversity – Strengthening Cohesion) aimed at the advertisement of the positive potential of the city’s pluralist landscape. On the other hand, the media often issues headlines and statements of politicians who declare multiculturalism in Germany as unsuccessful. The mayor Heinz Buschkowksy of Neukölln, a district in Berlin inhabited by about 30 percent migrants, with his rigorous conclusion “Multiculturalism has failed.” in 2005 caught the attention of the media. In these contradicting positions - the constant efforts to politically apply multicultural theory and then again the questioning whether multiculturalism is generally applicable in Germany - originates the interest to gain an extensive insight into multiculturalism practiced in Germany.
This paper aims to combine the political theory and practice of multiculturalism. Therefore, it inquires how the theoretical concept of multiculturalism is put into practice in a German context as an efficient means to manage immigration. After the definition of the term multiculturalism, this essay will further concentrate on German examples. Due to my own interest and the reason that in my opinion case studies better illustrate the theory I chose to concentrate on the German cities Frankfurt (Main) and Berlin to demonstrate how multiculturalism was implemented there. Within this framework the paper inquires to answer the questions of how German multiculturalism developed and what its characteristics are. Due to the earlier pointed out inconsistencies in the debate about multiculturalism the last part of the paper elaborates and names the main criticisms against the term especially manifest in the case studies.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is Multiculturalism?
3. Multiculturalism in Germany
3.1 Introduction of the Term into Public German Discourse
3.2 Implementation on a Local Level
3.3 Implementation on a National Level
3.4 Criticism to German Multiculturalism
4. Conclusion
Literature
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the intersection of political theory and the practical application of multiculturalism within the German context, specifically questioning how the country manages immigration through these concepts and why the debate remains contradictory.
- Analysis of the definition and theoretical roots of multiculturalism.
- Examination of the introduction and development of multicultural discourse in Germany.
- Comparative case studies of local implementation in Berlin and Frankfurt.
- Critical review of national policies, citizenship, and the "othering" process.
- Assessment of the effectiveness of multicultural initiatives and their reception by migrant communities.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Introduction of the Term into Public German Discourse
That multiculturalism is a frequently used and attractive term has to be seen against the background of German history and the ability to integrate migrants into the society over the last 50 years which is closely connected to the immigration politics of the German government in the past and in the present.
First, it is important to consider that Germany, although it had been subject to immigration especially since the 1960s, only recently recognized that it is a country of immigration. A negation of the status as an immigration country was first made in 1979 by the Kühn Memorandum, the first report of the 1978 founded Amt des Ausländerbeauftragten (Office of Foreign Affairs) (see Schwarz 2007, 74). Nevertheless the social reality in Germany drew another picture: In 1989 out of West Germany’s 61 million population foreigners constituted 18 million people. These migrants had mainly reached the country through recruitment agreements in the 1960s which were settled with Mediterranean countries, such as Italy, Spain and Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia, and Yugoslavia. Although most of the foreigners had entered the country on short term contracts and some returned after the recession of 1966-67, unexpectedly most of the migrants decided to stay permanently (see Panayi 2004, 467ff.).
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Outlines the contradictory nature of German multiculturalism, pitting political efforts for diversity against public statements of failure, and establishes the research goal of analyzing theory versus practice.
2. What is Multiculturalism?: Defines multiculturalism in contrast to assimilationist approaches, utilizing frameworks from scholars like Bhikhu Parekh and Grillo to distinguish between "weak" and "strong" multicultural models.
3. Multiculturalism in Germany: Provides a historical overview of how the concept was introduced into German discourse, identifying the shift from denying immigration to attempting local and national integration strategies.
3.1 Introduction of the Term into Public German Discourse: Details the historical reluctance of Germany to acknowledge itself as an immigration country and how the term multiculturalism gained traction among social workers and political parties during the 1980s.
3.2 Implementation on a Local Level: Explores specific municipal initiatives in Frankfurt and Berlin, such as the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMCA) and the Workshop of Cultures, which aimed to facilitate intercultural dialogue through mediation.
3.3 Implementation on a National Level: Discusses the systemic barriers to multiculturalism at the national level, focusing on strict citizenship laws and limited political representation for non-citizens, which reinforce a "weak" multiculturalist approach.
3.4 Criticism to German Multiculturalism: Critiques the limitations of German multicultural efforts, arguing that they often rely on "othering," cultural essentialism, and superficial media representation rather than structural inclusion.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, asserting that German multiculturalism remains a "weak" form focused more on integration than on the institutional recognition of a pluralist, diverse nation-state.
Keywords
Multiculturalism, Germany, Integration, Immigration, Public Discourse, Frankfurt, Berlin, Citizenship, Assimilation, Mediation, Political Representation, Othering, Cultural Essentialism, Minorities, Social Cohesion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines how the theoretical concept of multiculturalism is implemented in Germany and why its practical application often encounters conflicts or resistance.
What are the core thematic fields addressed?
The work covers political theory, immigration history, local versus national policy implementation, and the socio-political challenges of managing ethnic diversity.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks how German multiculturalism developed, what its characteristics are, and how it effectively (or ineffectively) manages immigration in a German context.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author uses a qualitative approach, combining political theory with case studies from Frankfurt and Berlin to illustrate the practical manifestations of multicultural policy.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body traces the historical discourse of the term, analyzes local mediation efforts, evaluates national legal obstacles like citizenship, and critiques the concept of "othering" in current German social and political practice.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Multiculturalism, Integration, Germany, Immigration, Citizenship, Mediation, and the process of "Othering".
Why does the author classify German multiculturalism as "weak"?
Drawing on Ralph Grillo's definitions, the author argues it is "weak" because it largely restricts cultural expression to the private sphere while demanding high levels of assimilation in the public domain.
How did local initiatives in Frankfurt and Berlin perform?
While initiatives like Frankfurt's OMCA and Berlin's Workshop of Cultures were successful at a local level, they struggled to reach the broader migrant population and were often perceived as image-management tools rather than vehicles for meaningful structural change.
- Citation du texte
- Manuela Paul (Auteur), 2009, “Supporting Diversity – Strengthening Cohesion” - Multiculturalism in Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/123210
