Critique 2
Have you ever wondered why immigrants in some countries assimilate more than others? Have you ever questioned the fundamental differences in countries’ programs to integrate immigrants into their mainstream culture? What truly motivates the fundamental goal of such integration programs? To attempt these questions, a journey is taken to Germany to better understand the new nature of their modern integration program and the controversial aims that motivate it. Particularly, the article, “Teaching Citizenship: The German Integration Project,” written by Dr. Jessica Brown will be analyzed for the nature of Germany’s integration program along with the view of its goal from the three sociological perspectives: functionalism, conflict
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From a functionalist perspective, the German Integration Project can be viewed as a mechanism in order to maintain the long-lasting morals and values that ethnic Germans have accustomed to in their country while also ensuring the stable functioning of society. Initially, the author discusses that Germany had to solve its problem of declining population with the introduction of citizenship to new foreign immigrants. Furthermore, this new move created a function for new immigrants in society as to prevent any shortage of workers or a decline in the economic growth. However, this first balancing act of the economic system meant that those immigrants could potentially alter the cultural and social climate. Thus, rather than simply allowing the “new” foreign citizens to assimilate on their own, the project takes into consideration the teaching of German morals, values and even its social democratic system. For example, small ideas such as showing up to appointments and conscientiously recycling all reusable trash are heavily stressed by teachers in order to keep society stable and solider in its values (Brown 2013). In such a way, society contains any drastic changes and maintains the equilibrium necessary with the least possible changes to continue the functioning of its social …show more content…
Particularly, the use of the social conflict theory can be used to explain the fear that if immigrants didn’t assimilate, they will threaten the social fabric (Chapter 12, 334). The fight for the integration of immigrants can be merely seen as a way for the dominant class, being the ethnic Germans, to maintain the dominance of their ideas from other competing ones. A prime example generally feared is that Muslims might exert some influence in society, especially given the stereotypical framing of “Muslims as a whole as backward, intolerant, or violent” (Brown 2013). Thus, rather than recognizing or tolerating such groups as separate identities, the German integration project attempts at assimilating and eventually, weakening those separate identities. In other words, “by an intermixture with [German] people, [immigrants], or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, and laws: in a word, soon become one people” (Chapter 12,
Many Americans can link their heritage to German origins. However, the German’s values, norms and beliefs have shifted when combined with American culture. Within Germany’s culture, there are common themes of organization, compartmentalization, and formality. The interaction between these themes of values, norms and beliefs influences the German culture, structured society, and worldview. While there are similarities between German and American culture, these two countries have difference views on human psychie.
Both authors rely on case studies of specific ethnic groups as a platform to push their respective arguments. For the purpose of this essay, only the Jewish and Black ethnic groups will be discussed since conjunctively they reflect the dichotomy of assimilation “success” and “failure”. One of the strengths of Sowell’s work though is how extensive and detailed he goes into ethnic groups. Not only does Sowell cover a large variety of ethnic groups, he also discusses differences within ethnic groups. Steinberg instead groups ethnic groups more
Arrivals, from the same year, from all countries of persons of German race were 29,682 and Hebrew arrivals were 60,764. Changing the Character of Immigration, Pg. 103. 1) Unfortunately, with such a large influx in population during a short amount of time and other variables such as immigrants being unable to speak English, inadequate affordable urban housing, and insufficient jobs, a large amount of immigrants ended up in growing slums without the feeling of security or knowledge of how to find help, if there was any, from an unrepresentative government. These factors transformed incoming immigrants into easy prey for patronage from the political machine and sustained them by giving their votes. In the 1930’s, mass immigration had stopped and representative government had begun, leading to a decline in patronage needed by then integrated immigrants and a decline in votes for the machine....
Zimmermann, KF 2007, “Immigration policy and the labor market: The German experience and lessons for Europe.” Berlin: Springer.
Historically, America is known for its “melting-pot” culture. We used to take everyone who wants to become an American, just as the plaque on the Statue of Liberty says: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” (Lazarus). Sometimes, however, this process also removes any trace of their previous culture. A German-descendant is only a German by ancestry, and any part of them that also defined this was removed via assimilation. But there is also a broader context, beyond that of the “cultural assimilation” America performs for its immigrants. It is the “education” schools do for its children. This education has larger, more detrimental effects that the author wants to define beyond the message of “cultural assimilation.” Karen Russell shows, through the plot of St Lucy 's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, this process of education, its flaws and how it affects children.
Immigrants leave their countries in search for a better life and improvement of their situation. There is no singular reason for immigration; motivations range from better economic prospects to political safety. As of late, the number of immigrants living in the United States is an estimated 11 million. Those who immigrate are expected to contribute to the United States culturally, politically, and economically. Yet, full assimilation becomes difficult to achieve when the immigrant is made into “the other” by the country of reception.
...and citizenship tests in several countries as a new way of selecting immigrants. Shift away from viewing integration as a positive social measure and towards predominantly viewing it as a repressive immigration measure can be noticed.
The guest workers arrived from the eastern bloc, Vietnam, North Korea, Angola, Mozambique and Cuba. Their opportunities were limited by the Stasi, the Government of Eastern Germany. Guest workers were limited to their dormitories or an area that the Germans were prohibited to enter. They were faced with deportation, premature discontinuation of residence and were to obtain specialized work permits along with other sources of open discrimination in their workplaces. From the guest workers that remained in Eastern Germany, approximately 75 % were encouraged to leave due to the rising tide of xenophobia. The Vietnamese, one group in particular, could not return because of diplomatic reasons. During this time the Turkish people experienced many forms of prejudice. For a period of 8 to 15 years they were granted citizenship and were to remain for a definite length of time but return to their original country once they’d acquired precise skills that would strengthen the economy. German workers, once arrived, were required to perform occupations that were reserved for the unskilled which ultimately lead to Germany’s reigning in of third place for the richest country. Crime was excessive, unemployment was an extreme low, and of these downfalls only 18% were from Berlin while approximately 35%, the city of Turks. The housing and education were insufficient for the guest workers and though they played minor political roles, they generally kept to themselves and social class. Germany’s immigration program began in 1955 while it was suffering the toils of high redundancy. Guest workers at this time were of Italian, Spanish and Greek descent and in 1961 workers also disembarked ...
Since the creation of the United States of America, immigrants from all backgrounds have sought refuge, a home and a life in this country of prosperity and opportunity. The opportunity of freedom to exercise natural rights is a large pull factor that causes many people to come to America. Others come because it is a country where one can prosper. Prosperity of people in a country, however, is a more challenging phenomenon to explain than opportunity. Immigrants seek economic, social and educational as well as cultural prosperity. The question of how to gain such prosperity is a difficult one to answer. Some immigrants come to America, cast off their past identity and attempt to find a new, less foreign one. By assimilating to American culture with this new identity, they start a long and treacherous journey to seek prosperity in a land vastly different from the one they once called home. Many will gain educational, economic and social prosperity, but never gain cultural prosperity. Assimilating to American culture so hastily, some immigrants are never able to explore and keep up with their cultural backgrounds. Their families grow up and became Americans, never cognizant of their given up ethnic identities. Those immigrants, however, who are able to gain cultural prosperity through the help of other immigrants of their respective background, become integrated into American society while keeping their ethnic identity. This is the sort of opportunity that the United States of America has provided new arrivals since its founding. Although many immigrants become overwhelmed with American culture and assimilate into it, those who contribute to a working ethnic society are able to dela...
Immigration has been a major yet common event in society that has shaped today’s culture. Immigration is a complex event that many see as a problem or as something that helps the world as a whole. Through the eyes of a functionalist, immigration is a helpful occurrence that creates unity throughout the world. As people migrate from one border to another, they bring with them their culture and norms. As they do, the cultures of both societies either change or assimilate together to coexist. With the combing of cultures there usually starts some problems, however, over time these problems either go away or are tucked away in order for people to
In “Immigrant Benefits America”, Bill Clinton emphasizes the importance of immigrants in America. They are hardworking people who come to America to have a better life. He also asserts that American citizens have the responsibility to welcome new immigrants while immigrants have the duty to learn American culture and language, believe in the US government, and contribute to US society. However, Lawrence Auster delivers a different idea in his essay, “Immigration Threatens American Culture.” He points out that the negative effect of mass immigrants from non-European countries. Because of the difference in culture, language, and religion, these immigrant groups rather stay within their communities than socializing with others in US. This shatters
The work points out that autonomous assimilation among Jews has replaced anti-Semitism to become the new threat to Jewish ethnic particularity from the sociological perspective. Concerning Jews, with special ethnic culture, social assimilation means they have to accept the mainstream culture model and alter ethnic identity awareness and thinking approach. American democracy, individualism and liberty inject a fresh blood into Jew but is this great success or unexpected failure? Nobody knows. Social assimilation promotes minority nationality into mainstream society but with the deepening of assimilation, the loss of national uniqueness is
Whilst integration can be defined as “the process by which immigrants become accepted into society, both as individuals and
Immigration is a controversial topic that features conflicting opinions on a global scale. This is because skeptics believe that immigrants are taking away the original culture and traditions of individual societies, whereas, those supporting immigration believe that immigrants in fact enrich the culture of the host countries and provide great benefits to the country overall. This ongoing debate regarding immigration has led to the increased difficulty in gaining national citizenship in some countries, such as Saudi Arabia. Other countries, however, welcome immigrants as they believe foreigners are valuable to society. Immigration around the world should be encouraged as immigrants increase diversity, add to the amount of skills and labor opportunities available to the countries they move to, and improve the economy.
“Immigrants from the Balkans, the Middle East, Pakistan and North Africa” (Olwig & Paerregaard, 2011, p.3) were the predominant people arriving in Denmark in order to help fill in the lacking labour force. This arrival was initially positively perceived by the Danish society, seeing it as a supplement to the economic boost. Nevertheless, the native Danes’ attitude shifted rapidly as they saw their job opportunities decrease drastically, creating high unemployment rates (Moore, 2010, p.361) among the society. The Danes’ discontent of the situation established a new way of thinking about immigrants, “an othering of immigrants” (ibid), as Harald Moore defines it, thus creating a dichotomy between Danes and non-Danes, labelling the latter as “gæstearbejder [guest workers,…,] fremmedarbejdere [foreign workers,… or] invandrer [immigrant]” (ibid). In fact, it was during the 1990s that “Danes [became] concerned with the perceived existence of irreconcilable cultural differences between immigrants and refugees on the one hand, and Danes on the other” (Olwig & Paerregaard, 2011, p.14). This distinction, that some name “discrimination” (Moore, 2010, p.361), “racism” or even “xenophobia” (Moore, 2010, p.355), was intensified by the 1980s and onward globalisation