Unity-within-Diversity. The Intercultural Integration of Immigrants -- A Humane Middle Course between Assimilation and Segregation

The article presents a critical analysis of the German debate about the integration of migrants. An assimilationist concept of integration is dominating German migration research. It assumes that integration must be assimilation because integration into social structure (equality of opportunities) i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Berliner journal für Soziologie 2004-01, Vol.14 (3), p.287-298
Main Author: Geissler, Rainer
Format: Article
Language:ger
Subjects:
Assimilation
Canada
Cultural Pluralism
Federal Republic of Germany
Immigrants
Segregation
Social Integration
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The article presents a critical analysis of the German debate about the integration of migrants. An assimilationist concept of integration is dominating German migration research. It assumes that integration must be assimilation because integration into social structure (equality of opportunities) is not compatible with sociocultural pluralism (theorem of incompatibility). The example of the classical immigration country of Canada proves that the theorem of incompatibility is a false generalization, & that intercultural integration based on the Canadian principle of unity-within-diversity is a humane middle course between assimilation & segregation. The concept of unity-within-diversity is seeking an adequate balance between the needs of social cohesion & the interests of the majority in their core values being respected on the one hand, & the interests of the ethnic minorities in sociocultural differences on the other hand. The Canadian example also shows that political & social efforts are necessary to minimize ethnic inequalities (ethnic diversity mainstreaming). 4 Figures, 27 References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:0863-1808
DOI:10.1007/BF03204582