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 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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