The German Islam Conference and Multiculturalism in Germany

Emily Stephens, Shaun Cook, Rodanthi Dandoulaki

Our aims

• to understand the concept of multiculturalism and its place in Germany

• to understand the context and the aims of the German Islam Conference

• to analyse whether it has had its desired effect• to determine why the policy of multiculturalism

has failed in Germany • to discuss the positive and controversial aspects

of the conference in terms of multiculturalism

• Discussion: What to do you think multiculturalism is? What do you think integration is?

Failure of Multiculturalism?

• A third of British people viewed multiculturalism as incompatible with British values.

• David Cameron referred to multiculturalism as ‘disastrous’ and ‘wrong headed’ in 2007.

• Hans Monath (2007): Islam is not compatible with European and German values.

• Wolfgang Schäuble states that the goal of the Islamkonferenz is, “eine bessere …Integration der muslimischen Bevölkerung und ein gutes Miteinander aller Menschen in Deutschland, gleich welchen Glaubens“

The context of the German Islam Conference (DIK)

• Immigrant integration as ‘a national priority’• 4.3 Million Muslims living in Germany• ‘part of German society,’ ‘welcome in

Germany’

• to regulate communication between Muslims and state actors

• to secure Muslims’ integration into German society

tool for integration a harmonious, prosperous, thriving living together to make Muslims feel at home in Germany

Has the conference achieved its aims?

• Immigrant integration and the integration of Islam have have gained national relevance in Germany

• The involvement of migrants is only symbolic in nature

• A superior and inferior participant – Germany playing a steering role

• Muslims’ views not taken into account Muslims not living harmoniously with other German citizens

Germany’s Integration Policy

Pre-2000s:

- integration was left primarily to civil society and market processes

- different integration policies for different groups of migrants:

1. former guest workers and their families (referred to as Ausländer)2. ethnic German migrants from Eastern Europe (Spätaussiedler)3. Jewish individuals from the USSR, EU citizens and refugees

1998: centre-left coalition government initiates the Süßmuth commission – immigration debate begins

Leitkulturdebatte

• Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – creates own immigration commission & criticizes the government of jeopardizing “German cultural identity”

• Leitkultur: solely about culture?

Jörg Schönbohm (CDU), spoke of “incompatible parallel societies of immigrants and Germans” - kulturpluralismus

• European/ Western values• SHIFT: Culturally focused immigration policy & increasingly

challenging socio-economic societal fabric

“Germany is a country of immigration, but…”

• Citizenship Law, 2000

• Immigration Law, 2005

• Law on the Transposition of European Union (EU) Directives, 2007

Other reasons why multiculturalism has failed

• The recognition of minority group rights• Portrayal of immigrants• Perception of growing parallel societies• Exacerbation by terrorism and fanaticism• The end of the multicultural project?

Revival of multiculturalism?

Controversies concerning participants• Self-declared secular Muslims

representing women’s issues • Necla Kelek – critic of Islam • the women do not represent

the beliefs of all Muslims • ‘one-sided image’• the German state only

discussing certain issues with certain Muslims

Controversies concerning participants

• Muslim associations backed out of the conference - the Central Council of Muslims in Germany and the German Islamic Council

• - built on security and mistrust • ‘the threat they pose’ • ‘not a dialogue between equals’

Other criticisms

• Are the German state and the Muslims agreeing on where they want the future to lead?

• How wise is it to give a special place to Islam?• Are multicultural policies even necessary?• Do the efforts of the DIK conflict with other

policies?• Have the organizers even considered the

generational effect?

Conclusion

• Is the DIK a form of multicultural governance? • Does it warrant a new type of

multiculturalism?

• Discussion: Do you think multicultural governance is more suited to societies today? Could this model be applied to the UK?

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