Since 1945, various groups of immigrants have made their way to Germany, which has been an attractive destination because of its prosperity and its location in the centre of Europe.
However, for a long time Germany′s politicians upheld the perception that Germany was not a country of immigration and therefore failed to develop a common immigration and citizenship policy. This paper will depict this paradox and its consequences, which are a mix of policies that the government adopted for different groups of immigrants.
Furthermore, Germany′s immigration and citizenship policies were significantly influenced by internal and external political factors, which arose out of the Cold War. As a consequence, Germany had to react to the radical change in international politics in 1989. This paper will attempt to analyse these factors by highlighting Germany′s three main groups of immigrants: ethnic Germans, labour migrants and asylum seekers.
The influx of ethnic Germans in the aftermath of World War II shaped Germany′s exceptional notion citizenship. This notion found its expression in Article 116 of the constitution and is rooted in German history, but was also shaped by the ideologies of the Cold War. This paper will show that Germany′s citizenship policy resulted from its geographical division into a capitalistic West and a communist East and that it made an artificially distinction between ethnic Germans and other immigrants such as labour migrants and asylum seekers.
The collapse of communism and Germany′s unification in 1989 led to a change in German immigration and citizenship policies. It signalled an end to ideologically motivated policies regarding immigration. Open borders and an increased influx of ethnic Germans and asylum seekers induced the government to take restrictive measurements in order to gain control over these inflows. This paper will address the most significant changes, which consisted of the reappraisal of the notion of German citizenship and an amendment of Germany′s generous right to asylum.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Is Germany a country of immigration?
- Germany's immigration and citizenship policies 1945-1989
- Ethnic Germans
- Labour migrants
- Asylum seekers
- 1989 German reunification and the end of the Cold War
- Restriction on ethnic German immigration
- The asylum compromise in 1993
- A new approach to German citizenship
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the influence of the Cold War on Germany's immigration and citizenship policies from 1945 to 2000. It explores the paradox of Germany's reluctance to acknowledge its status as a country of immigration despite the influx of various immigrant groups, and how the Cold War influenced the development of distinct policies for different immigrant groups.
- The impact of the Cold War on German immigration and citizenship policies.
- The evolution of German citizenship policies in relation to different immigrant groups: ethnic Germans, labour migrants, and asylum seekers.
- The influence of the Cold War on Germany's exclusive notion of citizenship.
- The impact of German reunification and the end of the Cold War on immigration policies.
- The shift from ideologically motivated policies to restrictive measures in response to increased immigration.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage for the paper, exploring the post-war influx of immigrants into Europe and the increasing focus on immigration control. It highlights the unique role of the Cold War in shaping Germany's distinct approach to immigration and citizenship compared to other Western European countries.
Chapter 2 explores the paradox of Germany's immigration policy, examining the contradiction between its status as a country of immigration and the government's denial of this reality. This section provides context for the analysis of Germany's specific immigration and citizenship policies.
Chapter 3 delves into the policies implemented between 1945 and 1989, focusing on the experiences of three main immigrant groups: ethnic Germans, labour migrants, and asylum seekers. This chapter explores the influence of the Cold War ideology on the development of these policies.
Chapter 4 examines the impact of German reunification and the end of the Cold War on Germany's immigration and citizenship policies. It explores the transition from ideologically driven policies to a more restrictive approach, analyzing the key changes in the notion of German citizenship and the right to asylum.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper examines the key themes of immigration, citizenship, Cold War, German reunification, ethnic Germans, labour migrants, asylum seekers, restrictive policies, and the notion of German citizenship. It analyzes the influence of the Cold War on Germany's immigration and citizenship policies, highlighting the impact of the division of Germany and the subsequent reunification on the country's approach to immigration and integration.
- Quote paper
- Kristina Beckmann (Author), 2002, The Impact of the Cold War on Germany's Immigration and Citizenship Policies from 1945 to 2000, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/9916
