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STRANGERS LIKE US GERMANS IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW IDENTITY

Anna Kwiatkowska-Drożdż NUMBER 77 WARSAW DECEMBER 2019

STRANGERS LIKE US GERMANS IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW IDENTITY

Anna Kwiatkowska-Drożdż © Copyright by Centre for Eastern Studies

CONTENT EDITOR Wojciech Stanisławski

EDITOR Katarzyna Kazimierska, Szymon Sztyk

CO-OPERATION Tomasz Strzelczyk

TRANSLATION OSW

CO-OPERATION Timothy Harrell

GRAPHIC DESIGN PARA-BUCH

DTP IMAGINI

PHOTOGRAPH ON COVER Timo Nausch / Shutterstock.com

Centre for Eastern Studies ul. Koszykowa 6a, 00-564 Warsaw, Poland tel.: (+48) 22 525 80 00, [email protected] www.osw.waw.pl

ISBN 978-83-65827-46-3 Contents

INTRODUCTION | 5

I. THE MEMORABLE SEPTEMBER OF 2015 | 8 1. What happened? The un-closed border | 8 2. Interim crisis management | 10

II. THE BATTLE FOR AN INTERPRETIVE ADVANTAGE | 12 1. Extreme interpretations | 13 2. “Lügenpresse” – the media as prisoners of their own bias | 16 3. AfD – the party that was not supposed to be there | 18

III. OLD AND NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT INTEGRATION | 23 1. Back to the past – old problems are still relevant | 23 2. Three assumptions of successful integration – controversies | 27

IV. MANAGING CHANGE: “WHO WILL BE THE PEOPLE?” | 36 With great difficulty and much organisational With great effort, Germanyhas years to come. The scale of this conflict resembles those with those resembles conflict this of scale The come. to years The sudden influx of more than one million refugees andmi refugees onemillion than more of influx sudden The 2 hc te emn hd rpld o dcds cnenn atti concerning decades, for grappled had Germans the which many for public German the divide will and force renewed with 1 Europe, creating a toxic mix of identity problems.Europe, Those problems creating a toxic mix of INTRODUCTION more universal, even existential, questions. Such questions have questions Such questions. existential, evenuniversal, more However,work.in found and training integration started ready Al wave. migration the of effects first the with cope to managed in conflicts most the engender will that crisis migration this is it tion crisis; though the famous utterance of , who Merkel, Angela of utterance famous the though crisis; tion the public debate, the initially prevailing concerns about technical them of some and registered werenewcomers the all not though Ukraine), in war the to , crisis,and crisis financial Eurozone the the through from (starting crises recent the all of that nuclear of use history,the German or and past the towards tudes proclaimed “ quickly andintegration problems relatedto migration gave way to be longer-lasting and certainly deeper, since at the centre of the of centre the at since deeper, certainly and longer-lasting be grants about the character of as a migration state resurfaced state a migration as Germany of character the about dred thousand people were met. Some of the newcomers have al havenewcomers the of Some met. were people thousand dred hun several of needs law, basic the the with conflict into entered democracy German for dangerous be also could assumed be identity.It can national of sense Germans’ is dispute energy. There aremany indicationsthatthistimethedivision will crisis.political and social dispute protracted country’s The latent, dominated the discussion about the consequences of the migra the of consequences the about discussion the dominated

2019, pp. 8–13, zeitschrift-ip.dgap.org. pp. 8–13, 2019, These two groups could not be clearly distinguished then, and they still still they and then, distinguished clearly be not could groups two These C. Stelzenmüller, C. Stelzenmüller, economic migrants claiming to be refugees. be to claiming and migrants refugees, economic authentic both included arrivals The new today. be cannot 1 to Germany in late 2015 and early 2016 exacerbated the exacerbated 2016 early and 2015 late in Germany to Wir schaffen das ‘Der ratlose Hegemon’ ratlose ‘Der ” (“We can do it”), was useful initially, , Internationale Politik Internationale 2 . , March–April March–April , ------

5 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 6 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 Although the study focuses on the internal political internal the studyon focusesthe Although view, including a majority of the German political class, believe class, political German the of a majority view,including should a citizen how and like look should a state such of version The present paper discusses some aspects of this discussion and discussion this of aspects some discusses paper The present with society.with t s ut cmo t ve imgain s tra, sparking threat, a as immigration view to common quite is It it quickly turned out to be superficial and failed to stop the en the stop to failed and superficial be to out turned quickly it influx of migrants. of influx inevitable the for prepare to trying been have iticians integrate newcomers the that sure make to politicians to up is it people. its the effort to manage not only the technical aspects of migration migration of aspects technical the only not manage to effort the as such politicians, German by taken measures the of effects the necessary is migration crisis, a demographic of face the in that become irrevocably has Germany that realise public German tire tional aspect, which is crucial for Germany’s partners in foreign in partners Germany’s for crucial is which aspect, tional preservation of German national identity. The opponents of this of identity.The opponents national German of preservation patriotism? for Germany to sustain its political and economic power and that powerand economic and political its sustain to Germany for be defined. The divisions in this dispute run across the political the across run dispute this in The divisions defined. be gration and integration constitute a challenge to maintaining the maintaining to a challenge constitute integration and gration German decision makers already know that one of the key conse key the of one that know already makers decision German and integration, but also the emotions of thepeoplewhom thepol butalsothe emotionsof and integration, mi that be to seems view common The only politicians. among state.a migration A debate isstillongoing aboutwhat theGerman is What a German? is Who a German? or a refugee support: and suing barrage of questions. Who has the right to state protection state to right the has Who questions. of barrage suing status quo divide and different social strata, both within the electorate and electorate the within both strata, social different and divide en the make to need they that is crisis migration the of quences of the migration crisis, themigration itisalsoimportanttomention theinterna of the about also prosperity,but material about only not concerns , which has been relatively favourable for Germany and Germanyrelativelyfavourable for been has which , ­consequences ­continued ------While Germany does not perceive Russia as a military threat and threat a military as Russia perceive not does Germany While in 2015. Germany is ready to subordinate many of its international itsinternational in 2015.Germany isready tosubordinate many of to costs all at try certainly will Washington),it with line in is it conse its and open borders the leave to The decision repeated. tian Democrats, are aware that the situation of 2015 must not be not must 2015 of situation the that aware are Democrats, tian prevent a migration wave of a similar scale and disorderliness as disorderliness and scale a similar waveof a migration prevent policy andtheEU. All Germanpoliticians, andespecially theChris activities to this goal, whether in its relations with Russia,with relations Turkeyits goal,in whetherthis activities to sive competitor (and if it sees it as a threatening competitor, then a threatening as it sees it if (and sivecompetitor aggres an than rather partner a worthwhiletrading as China sees or North African countries. African North or class inGermany, inadditiontoitseffect inshaping policy.foreign political current the for experiences formational were quences - - -

7 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 8 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 The uncontrolled influx of immigrants continued until 13 Sep until continued immigrants of influx uncontrolled The 3 4 migrants and refugees wavethe to of halt forced a possible wards What 1. I. in which they arrived, remained in force (although Merkel had Merkel (although force in remained arrived, they which in ministers, thatthisstepwould belegal,andshewas apprehensive not presentinBerlinatthetime)and Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar were whom of (most colleagues closest her consulted many.She refugees andmigrants, who after hadstartedtogatherinHungary ter’s statement, they still had the right to enter Germany – it was it Germany – enter to right the had still they statement, ter’s Maizière,Minister, de Interior tember,Thomas German the when for open Austria with border German the keep to decision tous lor, and the next day he began to criticise her decision. Border decision. her criticise to began he day next the and lor, by border guards border by gees should seek international protection in the first EU country country EU first the in protection international seek should gees Gabriel of the SPD. The CSU coalition partner and the president the and partner coalition The CSU SPD. the of Gabriel momen the took Merkel Angela Chancellor 2015, 4 September On application at the border and to be registered. be to and border the at application re‑intro be would border Austrian the at checks that announced services were prepared to close the borders, but Merkel failed to failed Merkel but borders, the close to prepared were services enough for them to express their willingness to lodge an asylum an lodge to willingness their express to them for enough duced to opinion public and media the by response unfavourable an of constitutional including colleagues, her from assurances obtain Chancel the meeting avoid to tried Seehofer,party, Horst the of Ger to travelon them let and route, Balkan so-called the crossing de facto

A. Ciechanowicz Imposing border controls was a response to the chaos that broke at Mu at broke that chaos the to a response was controls border Imposing See: See: www.osw.waw.pl. nich’s railway station and the dramatic media pleas of the authorities. See: See: authorities. the of pleas media dramatic the and station railway nich’s aus dem Innern der Macht THE MEMORABLE SEPTEMBER OF 2015 SEPTEMBER MEMORABLE THE 4 . He said that the Dublin III procedure, under which refu which under procedure, Dublin III the that said He . R. Alexander, R. Alexander, repealed it on 4 September). However, after the Minis the However,after 4 September). on it repealed happened? , 3 . ‘“Refugees” – Germany’s increasing problem’ increasing Germany’s ‘“Refugees” – Die Getriebenen: Merkel und die Flüchtlingspolitik. Report Report Flüchtlingspolitik. die und Merkel Getriebenen: Die The un-closed , Munich 2017. Munich , border , 16.09.2015, 16.09.2015, , ------When in 2015 EU migration law was breached and it was decided was it and breached was law migration EU 2015 in When The border and local authorities soon started soon authorities local and Germany of states The border 5 However, the developments of September 2015 and the admission the and However,2015 September developmentsof the interna respect would Germany that assuring by and Hungary needs of the market, especially in view of the country’s demo country’s the of view in especially market, the of needs arrival, first of country EU the to back migrants the send to not island the (e.g. on crisis a humanitarian and arrivals of numbers and especially countries, those by The calls situation. nomic of decisions immediate the from only not stemmed time of riod tions such as ‘moral imperative’ and obligations stemming from stemming obligations and imperative’ ‘moral as such tions no invoked also they but rights, human respect to obligation the and response a humane for need the narrativeemphasised tarian and humanitarian cited mainly Germany of leaders political the eco their to disproportionately countries European Southern the asylum. to right the to access unfettered recognise and law tional one t Grays aorbe cnmc iuto ad the and situation economic favourable Germany’s to pointed to come to migrants encouraging of accused was she fire: under lum system. By clinging to the Dublin III procedure, it burdened it procedure, Dublin III the to clinging By system. lum graphic problems and the labour shortage. Immediately,shortage. labour the however,and problems graphic Greece, which pleaded for help as they faced rapidly increasing rapidly faced they as help for pleaded which Greece, politi EU by negligence earlier from also but Merkel, Chancellor from refugees admit to permission one-off giving by Germany Germany’s history. Those who referred to economic arguments economic to referred who Thosehistory. Germany’s narrative was put forward which argued that even if if even that argued which forward ­‑put a counter was narrative economic reasons for doing so. The proponents of the humani the of The proponents so. doing for reasons economic ignored were 2012) in Lampedusa of asy a coherent create to failed had EU the years,many For cians. pe a short within Germany to migrants million one than more of came Merkel Chancellor problems. organisational experiencing

The number of migrants had been growing for several years, but the be the but years, several for growing been had migrants of The number ginning of the crisis is considered to have occurred in 2015, when a record a record when 2015, in occurred have to considered is crisis the of ginning in 2015 were mainly Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis. and Afghans Syrians, mainly were 2015 in Union European in lodged were applications asylum 1.2 million of number countries. According to UNHCR data, the migrants who arrived in Europe Europe in arrived who migrants the data, UNHCR to According countries. 5 . ------

9 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 10 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 ‘super-moral’ citizens of the world with a monopoly on humanity on world a monopoly the with ‘super-moral’of citizens 7 Thanks to the efforts of administrative bodies at all levels, all as well at administrative bodies of efforts the to Thanks 6 8 world was a sign of arrogance and immaturity that led to a sense a sense to led that immaturity and arrogance of a sign was world Balkan route, which contributed to discouraging some migrants migrants some discouraging to contributed which route, Balkan number the new and refugees following yearsinflowIn the of the whole the save could Germany that belief the that argued It was to lead not could considerations humanitarian that argued It also . Interim 2. infrastructure necessary to receiveinfrastructure necessary refugees within the framework civil retired of hundreds including citizens, ordinary of ment past’.‘overcoming the and War II World of sins the for repenting market. German the in skills the for demand the account into ing h msae rm h rln eie ad h misra media mainstream the and elites ruling the from message the solutions hoc ad only were these technical difficulties and speed up its asylum procedures. However, thousands of hundreds (evenworkers new needed economy the per year), they needed to be admitted in an orderly fashion, tak fashion, orderly an in admitted be to needed theyyear), per from sailing to Greek islands and allowedand islands Greek to sailing from Germany the prepare to EU–Turkeyan about agreement bring to forts highlighted the merits of Chancellor Angela Merkel and her ef her and Merkel Angela Chancellor of merits the highlighted a destabilisation of the state and society in the name of endlessly of name the in society and state the of a destabilisation as the organisational support of the armed forces and the involvethe and forces armed the of support organisational the as servants and teachers,servantsand Germany its managed overcometo of most of registrations decreased significantly. Explaining this change, this significantly. Explaining decreased registrations of as Germans the of a self-image build to served and superiority of

24.04.2016, www.zeit.de. 24.04.2016, A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, K. Strachota, M. Chudziak K. Strachota, A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, Winkler, H.A. For more information on the atmosphere and the problems of that period, period, that of problems the and atmosphere the on information more For gee” problem. The most important test for Chancellor Merkel and the grand grand the and Merkel Chancellor for test important The most problem. gee” pact: how to stop the migration crisis?’ migration the stop to how pact: ’ n o i t i l a o ­c see: see: A. Ciechanowicz , OSW Commentary OSW crisis E gb ki dushs Moralmonopol’ deutsches kein gibt ‘Es management , in co-operation with with co-operation in , , no. 182, 11.09.2015, www.osw.waw.pl. 11.09.2015, no. 182, , 7 . , 9.03.2016, www.osw.waw.pl. 9.03.2016, , L. Gibadło 8 . The closing of the of The closing . , ‘The Ankara– ‘The Ankara–Berlin , ‘Germany’s“refu Zeit , Online, Online, 6 - - - - . Angela Merkel as the party leader, she not only assured her party her assured only not leader,she party the as MerkelAngela 9 was designed to meet voterwasmeet to designed expectationswas and the to a reaction cam Democrats’ Christian the of cornerstones the among were the on Workpotentials. and capabilities respective their within 10 Merkel interpreted as the involvement of individual states in hu in states individual involvementof the as interpreted Merkel For the last four years, the has annually adopted new adopted annually has Bundestag the years, four last the For manitarian assistance, border protection or the handling of asy of handling the or protection border assistance, manitarian solidarity’,‘flexible Chancellor which of principle bythe replaced argue to began also Berlin factor. a secondary as only mentioned that a crisis on the scale seen in 2015 would never repeat itself, repeat never would 2015 in seen scale the on a crisis that was concept that 2018 of summer In the crisis. migration the to based states, European different to migrants the relocating time, withsimilarprovisionsthat agreements tothoseintheEU–Turkey port foreigners denied the right to stay in Germany.in stay to rhetoric right This the denied foreigners port 2017.At the September in elections Bundestag the to prior paign effective solution only the as presented wassystem, a quota upon federal CDU convention on 6–7 December 2016, which re-elected which 2016, 6–7 December on convention CDU federal legislation tightening the asylum rules, easing the burden of mi of burden the easing rules, asylum the tightening legislation migration illegal of causes the of combatting and procedures lum but also supported a ban on the burqa in public offices, schools offices, public in burqa the on a ban supported also but gration borne by the German states and expanding the list of safe of list the expanding and states German bythe borne gration and public transport, as well as the proposal to systematically de systematically to proposal the as well as transport, public and countries of origin of countries ongoing still is systemasylum EU common deal shouldbenegotiated withNorth African countries. For a long Turkey,with was agreement the from resulting relocation the of campaign of the anti-migration .forAlternative anti-migration the of campaign

. Ciechanowicz A. 2019 6 March of Commission European the of release Press waw.pl . , Gray srce ayu laws’ asylum stricter ‘Germany: 10 . Proposals to tighten the asylum procedures asylum the tighten to Proposals . 9 . , 21.10.2015, 21.10.2015, , , europa.eu. , www.osw. - - - - - 11 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 12 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 ilne Bten 91 n 19, xrmss omte a total a committed extremists 1993, and 1991 Between violence. The rivalry between the two different interpretations of the mi the of interpretations different two the between The rivalry which in September 2015 could be observed in places like Munich like places in observed be could 2015 September in which deeply the as wellGermany, as in behaviour xenophobic of wave 13 12 11 Merkel decided to make that visit because she had been accused been had she because visit that make to decided Merkel 28 people died and 1,800 were injured 1,800 were and died 28 people II. moving media images of the chaos at Keleti station, the bodies of of bodies the station, Keleti at chaos the of images media moving numbers large in beginning the remembered still Germany.people Many of image tered with demonstrations of hospitality ( hospitality of demonstrations with tered refugees world’s the refugees with contact from away shying in also but crisis, tion ,the Heidenau, in camp a refugee visited Chancellor the When crowds. aggressive of pictures saw again once world the ly manifested itself in her lack of response to the calls for help for calls the to response of lack her in itself manifested ly the in deterioration resulting the and migrants towardshaviour be hostile by influenced greatly been had open border the leave gration crisis predated its peak in September 2015. The decision to to The decision September2015. in peak its predated crisis gration and the institutions in Germany to which they started to come to started they which to Germany in institutions the and a traitor. her called and her booed city the of residents assembled children who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, etc., werecoun Sea, etc., Mediterranean the drownedin who children all accept not could Germany that explained she when empathy migra the with struggled it as Europe southern from coming alleged which problem, the towards attitude aloof an having of Jews. and immigrants refugees, against violence of 4,500 acts of right-wing of a wave experienced Germany when 1990s, the of

R. Alexander, R. Alexander, J.S. Eder, 219,000 refugees were registered in the first seven months of 2015 alone – alone – 2015 of months seven first the in registered were 219,000 refugees pp. 276–277. it marked a 125% increase over the same period in 2014. in period same the over increase a 125% it marked ska pamięć o Holocauście od lat 70. XX wieku 70. lat od o Holocauście pamięć ska the American memory of theofHolocaustthe Americanmemory sincethe1970 THE BATTLE FOR AN INTERPRETIVE BATTLE FOR INTERPRETIVE THE AN ADVANTAGE Lęk przed Holocaustem. Republika Federalna Niemiec a amerykań Niemiec Federalna Republika Holocaustem. przed Lęk Die Getriebenen 12 . The Chancellor was also accused of lacking of accused also was The Chancellor . 13 . Merkel’s disengagement and the growing the and disengagement Merkel’s . …, …, op. cit. op. , pp. 27–44. ,

[ 11 Federal Republic of Germany and and Germany of Republic Federal . In the summer of 2015, of summer In the . Willkommenskultur s ], Pilecki Institute, 2019, Institute, Pilecki ], ), ), ------voters, especially since it had not been sufficiently with consulted been voters,not had it especiallysince The events of late 2015 and early 2016 exacerbated Germany’s po Germany’s exacerbated 2016 early and 2015 late of The events was perceived as acting outside the interests of thenationand was perceived asactingoutsidetheinterestsof stressed, waspolicy,policy. Merkel’sit That to alternative no was 15 14 Extreme 1. Eve in 2015, during which a series of attacks on womenplace attackson took of Eve a series which during 2015, in mon to believeto mon refugeeswerethat inherentlyweaker helpless,and uncom not was however,it then, Even Cologne. of centre the in train station, where migrants were welcomed by the locals and locals the by welcomed were migrants where station, train terms of opportunities and new possibilities new and opportunities of terms New Year’s eventsbythe of triggered been had towards migrants parliament. Meanwhile, inthelonger term,acceptingtherefugees more volunteering, of forms various included also pathy,which for the public, rather than an order or a phrase meaning there meaning a phrase or order an than rather public, the for local attacks on them were based on fear,wereon them concerns based attackson and local insecurity litical andsocialcrisis. Theirinterpretation,andtheconsequences given gifts, including toys for children. After this wave of sym of wave this After children. for toys including gifts, given grudging sentiments began to surface. This outbreak of hostility of outbreak This surface. to began sentiments grudging n o te oiat artvs a ta te oenets re government’s the that was narratives dominant the of One a simple administrative exercise, and should be talked about in about talked be should and exercise, administrative a simple than rather project, political a grand as intended is migrants and waning was it for support why is this and status. social losing about so they should not be presented as aggressive intruders, and that and intruders,aggressive as presented be not should they so sponse to the crisis had been correct but poorly communicated, poorly but correct been had crisis the to sponse das

H. Münkler, M. Münkler, M. Münkler, H. Münkler, The same narrative of a ‘great political project’ and ‘investment in the fu the in ‘investment and project’ political a ‘great of narrative The same Berlin 2016, p. 224. 2016, Berlin tempo of change. of tempo Fuk the of aftermath the in when, 2011 in Germany in employed was ture’ ushima disaster, the decision was made to phase out nuclear energy and and energy nuclear out phase to made was decision the disaster, ushima recently faced major difficulties, related, related, difficulties, major faced recently radically speed up the energy transition. However, its implementation has ” (“We can do it”) should be interpreted as an encouragement an as interpreted be should it”) do (“We can ” interpretations Die neuen Deutschen. Ein Land vor seiner Zukunft seiner vor Land Ein Deutschen. neuen Die inter alia inter 14 , while “ while , 15 . , to the revolutionary revolutionary the to , Wir schaffen Wir ------, 13 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 14 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 The following is an attempt to reconstruct the two extreme po extreme two the reconstruct to attempt an is The following 16 iin wih hrceie h pris o h dsue n the and dispute the to parties the characterise which sitions divisions in Germany.in ­divisions state. a migration as Germany and debate identity present-day German concerning the for crucial are interpretation, that of

vent the destabilisation of other countries in Europe. This Europe. in countries other of destabilisation the vent hs nepeain ihihe te ak f oiaiy and solidarity of lack the highlighted interpretation This with the threat of the disintegration of the EU and the dis the and EU the of disintegration the of threat the with In the face of the collapse of the Dublin III system, caused system, Dublin III the of collapse the of face In the 1 Merkel (1) not wish to receive Muslims on the grounds of their ethnic their of grounds the on Muslims receive to wish not ‘surrender’German to was action strategic Merkel’s of ment and image Germany’s in a deterioration prevented turn in in act to decided Merkel zone, Schengen the of mantling treatment might in future extend to citizens of the Member the of citizens to extend future in might treatment in The V4 countries, EU. the within divisions deepening the the with accordance in refugees, of wave the to territory States, Member individual on influence real their of lack the particular, were pilloried for blocking the ‘European solution solution ‘European the blocking for pilloried particular,were European a comprehensive until time’ – for ‘place of principle by the powerlessness of supranational EU institutions and institutions EU supranational of powerlessness the by Germany was aware of its responsibility for the EU. FacedEU. the for responsibility its of aware was Germany also stressed that there was a risk that such discriminatory discriminatory such that a risk was there that stressed also was it unacceptable; considered was identity religious and did who those of policy’.EuropeanThe attitude common and the surpassed far have would that losses economic avoided pre to decisions way,taking strategic and a humanitarian solution could be found be could solution cost of receiving and integrating the refugees. The main ele The main refugees. the integrating and receiving of cost For more information, see: see: information, more For können’ op. cit op. ., pp. 217–220; pp. 217–220; ., , Zeit , Online, 11.02.2016, www.zeit.de. 11.02.2016, Online, ‘saves H. Münkler, H. Münkler, Europe’ H. Münkler, M. Münkler, M. Münkler, H. Münkler, 16 . ‘Wie ahnungslos kluge Leute doch sein sein doch Leute kluge ahnungslos ‘Wie Die neuen Deutschen - - - …, -

17

To this day, German politicians hope that Germany will be will Germany that hope politicians day,German To this which oppose the obligatory mechanism of the relocation of of relocation the of mechanism obligatory the oppose which In a harsher version, this interpretation was a starting point a starting was interpretation this version, In a harsher of accused was Merkel narrative this of version In a lighter 2 Merkel (2) itants at risk of being flooded by foreigners and, in conse in and, foreigners by flooded being of risk at itants the that assumption an on based irresponsible, and mature im was actions Germany’s behind The reasoning migrants. by flooded was country the which of a result as borders, its Germany.in discourse public to returned soon migrants eortsd Crsin eort ad Merkel and Democrats ‘social ­‑ Christian the democratised’ Germany’, including in power in elites ‘leftist the accuse to protect to failing and sovereignty its up giving Germany to the ‘like state, a failed like look Germany made days these passivity. Her failure to close the German border in 2015 and 2015 in border German the close passivity.to failure Her themselves. on solution the take would Austria possibly personally. Those elites were allegedly trying to ‘dismantle to trying allegedly were elites personally.Those her claims that it was not possible to control every border every control to possible not was it that claims her States of the Union. Lighter criticism was levelled at the oth the levelledat was criticism Lighter Union. the of States Germany’ and German culture, putting the country’s inhab country’s the putting culture, German and ­Germany’ and the calls for financial penalties for those EU countries EU those for penalties financial for calls the and fairly’, burden the ‘share to EU entire the convince to able and Germany, Sweden that expected and all at them affect self­‑annihilation. country country could ‘save everyone in need’, which would equate to ones in Africa’ not did problem the that considered which countries, EU er quence, leading to the emergence or a parallelconsolidation of neve wt Ptr ltrik ‘ Sloterdijk, Peter with Interview t n r e l e ­g ’, ’, Cicero ‘betrays , 28.01.2016. , 17 . Merkel’s feeble policy was a mistake and led the nation’ Wir haben das Lob der Grenze nicht nicht Grenze der Lob das haben Wir - - - - 15 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 16 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 21 20 19 18 The media . “Lügenpresse” 2. mood y. c i l o ­p pilloried consequences stream

This harsher version of the ‘betrayal of the nation’ narrativenation’ the of ‘betrayal the of version harsher This which resisted the obligatory migrant quotas were ruled by ruled were quotas migrant obligatory the resisted which was usually presented the byPegida marches participants of ican agent’ who had started a real a real started had who agent’ ican they did not let the lying media deceive them. The countries The countries them. deceive media lying the let not did they ‘Ameran as Merkel viewed groups only.Those not though faith would be hindering or preventingor wouldhindering faith be integration Sweden, were on the verge of collapse. Sweden,vergewerethe on of genuine patriots, and the excessively open countries, such as excessivelysuchcountries, the open and patriots, genuine and the German nation could still win this battle, as long as long as battle, this win still could nation German the and and was seeking an society living according to Sharia law, in which the Muslim the which law,in Sharia to according living society of A 19 Umvolkung The acronym for: for: The acronym Such views had already been present in Germany and had gained consid victions. See See victions. Social Democratic finance minister of Berlin, whom the SPD has unsuccess has SPD the whom Berlin, of minister finance Democratic Social that the majority of Turks and Arabs living in Germany are unable to in to unable are also: See Germany tegrate. in living Arabs and Turks of majority the that landes information under the influence of political, economic or ideological con ideological or economic political, of influence the under information distorting or withholding by opinion public manipulating of accused nals, fully tried to remove from the party. Among other things, Sarrazin claims claims Sarrazin things, other Among party. the from remove to tried fully former the Sarrazin, Thilo of publications the to thanks popularity erable aufs Spiel setzen Spiel aufs a term used by the propaganda of the Third Reich. Third the of propaganda the by used a term their swings th This caused even more polarisation and further deepened further and polarisation evenmore caused This media century slogan denoting the media, especially newspapers and jour (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West). or excluded played (ethnic population replacement), one of Pegida’s slogans, was own “ that fell Lügenpresse of , DVA, Munich 2010. DVA,Munich , T. Sarrazin, T. Sarrazin, Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abend des Islamisierung die gegen Europäer Patriotische the bias into

accompanied a crucial 21 – the Umvolkun migration a trap the ” critics in the the in Deutschland schafft sich ab. Wie wir unser Land Land unser wir Wie ab. sich schafft Deutschland media of role g Duden biased 20 of it. of Germany. of Ethnic Germans crisis

in the as In the

German dictionary. Kulturkamp the reporting, government’s prisoners in debate discussion Germany,

f and in Germany in whereby

18 migration . the the about social main they 19 the - , ------

h bhvor f h mda t h pa o te rss a stud was crisis the of peak the at media the of behaviour The 23 22 which Germany was ashamed. Most of the media and politicians and media the of Most ashamed. was Germany which Merkel’s policy were denied the right to criticise the governmentthe criticise to right the denied were policy Merkel’s 35,000 texts published in late 2015 and 2016. In addition to excess to In addition 2016. and 2015 late in published 35,000 texts main allegations concerned: allegations main politi the of mouthpieces opportunist like behaved reportedly and a journalist Haller, Michael of team the by described and ied the divisions within German society, both among ‘ordinary citizens’, the dubious arguments of anti-immigration ­ anti-immigration the dubiousargumentsof for fallen had who xenophobes or nationalists thoughtless trated, university professor grants, by either stating directly or implying that they were frus were they that implying or directly stating either by grants, and excoriated as inciters violence of and right­‑ elites intellectual the within and stigmatised people and opinions opposing the admission of mi of admission the opposing opinions and people stigmatised of the views and interpretations of government politicians, the politicians, government of interpretations and views the of at looked The study propaganda. government peddling elite, cal – – –

­Allgemeine M. Haller, M. Haller, See: See: www.otto-brenner-stiftung.de. See also: also: See www.otto-brenner-stiftung.de. Rosen tygodnikpowszechny.pl lismus zwischen Meinung und Information’ und Meinung zwischen lismus crisis’], migration the on view losopher’s menskultur the absence of messages from the regional press. regional the from messages of absence the institutionalised outside from voices represent to failure the the overlyopinions and the dominance the of one-sidedness of politics (such as volunteers, municipalities),representatives of lack of objectivism: the prevalence of opinion pieces, a ten pieces, opinion of prevalence the objectivism: of lack dency to put opinions before facts; before opinions put to dency or welcome, of culture the of narrative optimistic A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, , a journalism professor at the New York University, University, York New the at professor journalism a , ‘Die ‘Die , 2.09.2018, www.faz.net. 2.09.2018, , ; “ Flüchtlingskrise 23 . Hisconclusionswere alarming:journalists . ‘Filozof patrzy na kryzys migracyjny’ kryzys na patrzy ‘Filozof ” in den Medien – Tagesaktueller Journa 22 . People who were outraged by outraged were who People . Tygodnik Powszechny Tygodnik etr o emn rs b Jay by Press German to Letter , OBS-Arbeitsheft political groups. wing extremists, of 93 Frankfurter Frankfurter , 14.05.2016, 14.05.2016, , , 21.06.2017, , Willkom [‘A phi ------17 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 18 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 AfD and its politicians to represent themselves as victims of perse of victims themselvesas represent to politicians its and AfD move and parties anti-immigrant the of narrative the As a result, viously have been deemed extreme right-wing, racist and xeno and racist right-wing, extreme deemed been have viously The public was aware of this situation – and the people felt they felt people the and situation – this of aware was The public 24 were being manipulated. In a study by the Allensbach Institute Allensbach the by In a study manipulated. being were Moreover,wasthat bias revealedmedia the allowedhas time the at Excluding those who had doubts about the about doubts had who those Excluding In her book In her AfD – 3. media start to cover situations, the coverage of which would pre would which of coverage the situations, cover to start media sens their to back Journalistscame picture. real the represent not manded information on the scale of risks, debate about concerns about debate risks, of scale the on information manded stable country’s the despite that credibility much so gained ments thus partly alsothepublicdebateonproblemsarisingfrom byrevealingtheyownomissions what their for up make to trying tacks on women, which were happeningon a massive scale, turned did it that and one-sided wasrefugees the media’s the coverage of presence of immigrants and the broad application of asylum law.asylum of application broad the and immigrants of presence werejournalists some that impression the gain could One phobic. from public debate backfired. Critics of the migration wave de wave migration the of Critics backfired. debate public from and media), social on (especially years even or months following had concealed in the first months of themassanddisorderly influx had concealed in the firstmonthsof and how to address them, going beyond purely logistical issues. logistical purely beyond going them, address to how and the for tone the dominate to managed it situation, administrative one which directly affected ordinary citizens. Only then did the did then Only citizens. ordinary affected directly which one and migrants, and refugees to related problem a major be to out At Cologne. in 2015 in Eve Year’s New of events the after only es that stated respondent second every 2015, October in conducted cution excluded from public debate, irrespective of the actual facts. actual the irrespectiveof debate, public from excluded cution territory.German into people of

M. Amann, M. Amann, wer sie führt, wohin sie steuert sie wohin führt, sie wer the 24 , Melanie Amann quotes a 2016 study by an insurance insurance an bystudy a 2016 quotes Amann Melanie , Angst für Deutschland: Die Wahrheit über die AfD: wo sie herkommt, herkommt, sie wo AfD: die über Wahrheit Die Deutschland: für Angst party that , Droemer VerlagDroemer, was not supposed , 2017. , Willkommenskultur to be there ------

This is, by the way, where the party’s name originated. Initially, originated. name party’s the way,where the by is, This 26 25 members have also stepped up their criticism of globalisationand members have alsosteppeduptheircriticismof threat’.Its ‘Islamic the and migration illegal regarding fears man Eurozone the leave to Germany for called professors, renowned alternative’.‘no is there that argument its and Germany in ment mo and voters conservative some over won which (AfD), many there was ‘no alternative’ to the euro, and economists, including economists, and euro, the to alternative’ ‘no was there lifestyletheir would have changeto political correctness, while notionssuch as‘sovereignty’, ‘identity’ Since the party was founded in 2013, the support for AfD for support the 2013, in founded was party the Since be scrapped, it has also skilfully identified and tapped into Ger into tapped and identified skilfully also has it scrapped, be triumphantly and before, voted not had who people many bilised this of The absence debate. evidence-based to accustomed been One of the most significant, long-term effects of this wave of fear of this wave of effects long-term significant, most the of One and ‘patriotism’ gained prominence. ‘patriotism’gained and Germany.outbreak for the harmful Since was it that claimed and establish media and political the against protest of expression an Ger Alternativefor revivalof political the concerned anxiety and movements.and parties anti-immigration of popularity the boosted threat of sense growing the to added sions caused by migrants had led tothe aninflux unprecedented of sitions and, while it continues to call for the common currency to currency common the for call to continues it while and, sitions of the migration crisis, the movement shifted to more radical po radical more to shifted movement the crisis, migration the of during thefinancialcrisis, theprotest was directed attheideathat 2017.in Bundestag the entered that afraid were 47% and rates, crime up drivewould refugees of fear anxiety.and of escalation Most fearedrespondents influx the ten other and civilians on attacks that showed which company

Cf.: Cf.: Source: Source: presse miało nigdy nie być’ nie nigdy miało supposed to be there’], there’], be to supposed rs rlae y emn’ RV nuac company insurance R+V Germany’s by release Press . A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, [‘Alternative for Germany – the party that was not InstytutWolności, instytutwolnosci.pl. ‘Alternatywa dla Niemiec – partia, której której partia, Niemiec – dla ‘Alternatywa 25 . Germany’s. civilhad society , www.ruv.de/ 26 was was ------19 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 20 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 Attempts to explain the success of AfD by recourse to econom to recourse by AfD of success the explain to Attempts Thus, conservative voters were offered a political alternative. alternative. For a political offered werevoters conservative Thus, 27 In Saxony iteven won morevotes thantheCDUin2017federal Bunde the in seats won members 94 AfD 2017, of autumn In the ic factors or the lower education levels of its electorate do not do electorate its of levels education lower the or factors ic German sixteen the all of assemblies the in represented also is AfD Bundestag. the in Democrats Christian the of right party no dual hold to Germans allowing and service military mandatory agenda, left’s the of elements popular implementing overand ing evenor the SPD the of programmes the with aligned increasingly Democrats, Christian the that felt had them of some years, many the mainstream political parties. political mainstream the tak by voters new over win and centre political a broad build to unwritten rule that had held for many years: that there should be should there manyyears:that for held had that unwrittenrule had remained passive, who had been discouraged by the conver the by discouraged been had who passive, remained had gence of political programmes and saw little difference between difference little saw and programmes political of gence Greens, did not represent them. Chancellor Merkel had managed had Merkel Chancellor them. represent not did Greens, ated with it. AfD also managed to attract the votes of citizens whocitizens managedalso votesthe attract to of it. with ated AfD a populist, anti-immigration and anti-Islamic party breached the breached party anti-Islamic and anti-immigration a populist, seem to offer a correct interpretation of the phenomenon. 73% phenomenon. the of interpretation a correct offer to seem 2019. of autumn the in assembly state states. eastern the in presence strong a particularly with states, stag, thusforming thelargest oppositiongroup. The emergence of of abolition the protection, climate wage, minimum the as such of AfD voters consider their material situation to be good be to situation material their consider voters AfD of the to elections in success this repeat to likely is and elections, conservative conservative those and profile political associ voters a distinct of loss however,the was The consequence, citizenship.

‑ (12.2%). In the northern states the support for the party did not exceed 10%. 10%. exceed not did party the for support the states northern (12.2%).In the In the elections to the Bundestag in 2017, AfD achieved very good results results good very achieved AfD 2017, in Bundestag the to elections In the varia it came third (12.4%, only 2.9 percentage points behind the SPD), and SPD),and the behind points 2.9 percentage only (12.4%, third came it varia in 17 out of 46 constituencies it overtook the Social Democrats. In Democrats. Social the overtook it 46 constituencies of 17 out in and of states federal affluent the in Württemberg it achieved its second-best result in western Germany Baden-Württemberg 27 . In Ba . Baden , and , ------­ At the same time, it should be noted (especially in Poland) that Poland) in (especially noted be should it time, same At the quotes Ash AfD’s success has already changed the way the political system political the way the changed already has success AfD’s 31 30 29 28 while AfD tries to avoid having links to the neo-Nazis the to links having avoid to tries AfD while are deputies professor.Those or doctor of title academic the with in Germany works Germany in Germany.overtlyprevalentin also is is argues pro-Russian, it AfD Garton Timothyparty. the of resource intellectual only the not the AfD group in the Bundestag has a record proportion of people of proportion a record has Bundestag the in the AfD group to commemorate ‘the heroism of German soldiers’ and is proud is and soldiers’ German of heroism ‘the commemorate to who people from gets he letters protest furious the of most that have ditched the Christian Democrats in favour of AfD come from come have AfD favourin Democrats Christian the ditched of being influenced by the Russian government Russian the by influenced being and some AfD parliamentarians are facing serious allegations of of allegations serious facing are parliamentarians AfD some and guilt”’,“Holocaust which ‘cultthe of as to refers it what to end an of the German army’s record in both World Wars. It also calls for calls World Wars.both It also in record army’s German the of professors.universitylawyers and entrepreneurs, doctors,

Cf. M. Laruelle, Laruelle, M. Cf. Quoted after: T.G. Ash, ‘ T.G. Ash, after: Quoted Its presence in the Bundestag not only gives AfD the opportunity to chair chair to opportunity the AfD gives only not Bundestag the in presence Its h prys oml rcdrs niae etn cniae ebr for members candidate vetting envisage procedures formal party’s The www.ponarseurasia.org. Flügel’, which is under surveillance by the counter-intelligence services, is Source: Source: to run its operations annually. AfD also counts on a part of the 450 mil the of a part on counts also AfD annually. operations its run to lion euros that Germany allocates every year to the activities of political political of activities the to year every allocates Germany that euros lion devel W Kf the of board the on sit to also but committees, parliamentary growing been has and incidents antisemitic in involvement its for known ‘Der as known wing extreme AfD’s but organisations, neo-Nazi to links in force within the party. See: See: party. the within force in title: issue ewe Gra Fr ih ad Russia’ and Right Far German between foundations. of board supervisory the bank, opment Schlappe’ schwere eine Meuthenerleidet sion. In addition, AfD has approximately 16 million euros in state grants grants state in euros 16 million approximately has AfD In addition, sion. after the elections’ the after A. Ciechanowicz 28 InneNiemcy an anonymous leading CDU politician who claims who politician CDU leading anonymous an ‘Collusion or Homegrown Collaboration? Connections Connections Collaboration? Homegrown or ‘Collusion 31 , OSW Commentary OSW . It has forced the hitherto elites to negotiate to elites hitherto the forced It has . . Die Kultur Die , ‘Predictability lost: the German political scene scene political German the lost: ‘Predictability M. Kamann, M. Kamann, , głupcze’, głupcze’, , no. 254, 22.11.2017, www.osw.waw.pl. 22.11.2017, no. 254, , Deutsche Welle Deutsche Welt , PNR Ersa 10.04.2019, Eurasia, PONARS , Przegląd Polityczny Przegląd ‘Im Machtkampf mit Höcke Höcke mit ‘Im Machtkampf , 15.07.2019, www.welt.de. 15.07.2019, , 30 . and state televi 29 nr , it seeks it , 149/2018, 149/2018, - - - 21 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 22 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 ( Party, the Greens), and on the right (AfD). This situation This (AfD). Party, right Left the (the Greens), on the and AfD could not become the Speaker-Senior of the Parliament and Parliament the of Speaker-Senior the become not could AfD verge of breaking the law,state the breaking loweredvergehas of prestigewhich the of debates. fierce very The presence of ‘hard opposition’ has also strengthened the role the strengthened also has opposition’ ‘hard of The presence were hastily amended in such a way that the representative of of representative the that a way such in amended hastily were Finally, pressure from AfD has forced the mainstream political mainstream the forced has AfD from pressureFinally, inaugurate the first meeting. AfD nominees for the deputy speakerinaugurate the first meeting. AfD be where, situation the is this of example A telling institutions. order in definition, by unstable are which coalitions, multi-party the current term, the Grand Coalition has already had to confront to had already has Coalition Grand the term, current the AfD. with a government form to avoidhaving to fore the elections to the Bundestag in 2017, its Rules of Procedure of 2017,Rules in its Bundestag the to elections the fore forces to modify established political traditions, sometimes on the has allowed AfD to gain political ground by initiating sometimes initiating by ground political gain to AfD allowed has stronger parliamentary opposition than before, both on the leftthe on both before, than opposition parliamentary stronger of the Bundestag also continue to be blocked. be to continue also Bundestag the of During disputes. political for forum main the as parliament of - ‘guest workers’ ( workers’ ‘guest The current phase of heated is debatesnot a novabout integration The current phase of The forcefulness of the social reaction often resembles the situa the resembles often reaction social the of The forcefulness late2015andearly 2016broughtback The unprecedented events of Back 1. n h cmn yas f (r htvr t ops no ad its and into) morphs it whatever (or AfD years, coming the In Emphasis is given to the considerable funds that were expended were that funds considerable the to given is Emphasis I. OLD III. nated by issues such as the defence of conservative values versusconservativevalues of defence the as such issues by nated today, true domi is as just and, difficult as remembered are riods migrations job the War II, World after immediately society man refugees anddisplacedpeople who intoGer integrated millions of Germany,and in parties political for reference of a point remain the collapse of the USSR, followed by a wave of refugees from the from refugees followedUSSR, bya waveof the of collapse the of Russians and Jews of influx the to due 1990s,when, the of tion Who debates: earlier the from questions fundamental fore the to the deportations, citizenship, dual multiculturalism, of idea the use of the welfare system, and integration in the labour market. labour the in integration and system, welfare the of use future of Germany as a political and social entity,successsocial the and and a political as Germany of future has the right to stay, on what terms, who will integrate and how,and integrate will who terms, what stay,on to right the has going on in Germany with varying intensity for decades. In this In this decades. for intensity varying with Germany in on going German origin ( origin German and what is integration? is what and pe involvement.Those institutional and political broad the and will emotions and slogans anti-European and anti-immigration of the 1950s, as well as refugees fleeing various armed conflicts. armed various fleeing refugees as well as 1950s, the of the instance, for mentions,Germany in discourse public context, elty for theGermanpoliticalclassorpublicopinion.Debatesabout outcome. the decide ‘weapon’the will be that will policies integration the of failure or the is dispute this in At stake Democrats. Christian the especially ABOUT INTEGRATION ABOUT to AND the Russlanddeutsche Gastarbeiter past – NEW old QUESTIONS problems ), migrants and refugees have been have refugees and migrants ), ) who came to Germany after Germany to came who ) are

still relevant - - - - - 23 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 24 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 A comprehensive concept for the integration of foreigners was foreigners of integration the for concept A comprehensive A broad hasbeentakingplaceinGermany debateaboutmigration 34 33 32 Dialogues which started to take place in that year, involving rep involvingyear, that in place take to started which Dialogues peo Yugoslavia,4 million in almost war the of a result as Balkans necessary necessary for both social and economic reasons municipali states, the government, federal the of resentatives to strengthening social dialogue, the CDU/CSU–FDP government CDU/CSU–FDP the dialogue, social strengthening to of on mainly focused 2007,which in unveiled was Plan tegration organisations, faith and churches unions, trade employers, ties, Integration the via debate the in included were concerned those plenipotentiary for migration and integration and the adoption the and integration and migration for plenipotentiary arrivedple Germany.in sawrefugeeattackstimes on arson Those pursued a policy of encouraging foreigners who foreigners encouraging hadbeenliving in pursued a policyof functioning on their own, alongside German society) German alongsideown, their on functioning (e.g. through migrants to opportunities educational better fering clubs, sports media, the organisations, society civil foundations, had soured while the failure of integration and the emergence of of emergence the and integration of failure the while soured had already time some for brewing been had Germanymanyprocedures.for naturalisation yearsgothrough to an increasing number of parallel communities (i.e. communities (i.e. communities communities parallel of number increasing an access to language courses) and helping them find jobs. In addition since 2000, leadingto, cultural organisations and migrant associations. A National In A National associations. migrant and organisations cultural when 2006 in came change A significant 2005. in law a special of that problems were These aggression. of acts other and centres

V. Hanewinkel, J. Oltmer, J. Oltmer, V. Hanewinkel, For more information on the history of Germany’s integration policy, see: see: policy, integration Germany’s of history the on information more For In the German debate there is a dispute still over whether parallel societies After: After: live according to their own rules and are not interested in exchange, but exchange, in interested not are and rules own their to according live land’ manent divisions (also described in the work by H. and M. Münkler, cited cited M. Münkler, and H. by work the in described (also divisions manent naturalization’ to integration above, see footnote 14). Do the ‘aliens’ form separate groups that do not mix, mix, not do that groups separate form ‘aliens’ Do the 14). footnote see above, per of spaces rather or integration, of process the in forms transitional are , Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung politische für Bundeszentrale , M. Zawilska-Florczuk inter alia ‘Integration und Integrationspolitik in Deutsch in Integrationspolitik und ‘Integration , ‘Germany’s policy towards immigrants – from from immigrants – towards policy ‘Germany’s , OSW Commentary OSW , the appointment of a government , theappointmentof , 20.09.2017,bpb.de. , 32 . , no. 32, 4.01.2010. no. 32, , 33 . Public sentiment 34 were seen were ------4 billion for welfare benefits as part of the Hartz IV unemploy Hartz IV the of part as benefits welfare for 4 billion The growing demand for highly qualified workers has become an become has workers qualified highly for demand The growing 35 increasingly tangible problem. In recent years, worrying reports worrying years, In recent problem. tangible increasingly benefit scheme ment crèches),and of expansion the for 1.2 billion courses, integration ac and registration the for euros 1.6 billion (including incurred includ amount This euros). 21 billion (around 2017 in than more for benefits welfare (including state German the for integration tion crisis in that year at 23 billion euros, i.e. approximately 10% i.e. approximately euros, 23 billion at year that in crisis tion migra the of effects the with dealing of cost the puts report tal governmen A 2018 a year. euros 16 billion at unemployed) the for the German states to compensate them for additional costs additional for them compensate to states German the for have beenpublishedinGermany aboutthedramaticdemographic and the high unemploymenthigh the (20.3%and migrants among rate 2007)in to resistance also was there crime; in increase an generating as study by failed the Bertelsmann Foundation estimated the costs of ben welfare on money public of amounts larger ever spending situation and the threat of labour shortages, whose message could situation andthethreatof commodation of migrants pending asylumfor pending decisions, 2 billion migrants of commodation projects),development7.5 billionassistance cluding assistance as (in migration of causes the combatting on spent 7.9 billion ed A 2008 budget. German the on burden heavier ever an created market labour German the of The problems foreigners. for efits

‘Bund gab 23 Milliarden Euro für Flüchtlingsthemen aus’ Flüchtlingsthemen für Euro 23 Milliarden gab ‘Bund welt.de uncon and full as integration interprets which sentiment, public the with Or, perhaps, we are dealing with people who will come into contact with with contact into come will who people with dealing are we perhaps, Or, the locals only in case of the greatest need, and their alienation will never never will alienation their and need, greatest the of case in only locals the ‘folk This society. American co-created and role where important USA, an played the they in functioned communities parallel Such integration. to lore’ is preserved to this day (also among Americans of German origin) and and origin) German of Americans among (also day this to preserved is lore’ is viewed with sentiment and understanding in Germany. in understanding and sentiment with viewed is ditional adjustment to the customs and principles of the majority of society, society, of majority the of principles and customs the to adjustment ditional line in is opinion The latter claim. vision above the of critics as disappear, still enrich the community? The existence of such groups does not imply imply not does groups such of The existence community? the enrich still and not as a process of getting closer to each other. each to closer getting of a process as not and road the on a stage as treated be can and process integration the of a failure . 35 . , Welt , , 20.05.2019, , ------25 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 26 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 Therefore, if Germany wished to remain at least at the current the at least at remain to wished Germany if Therefore, 37 36 who arebestqualified,inordertoremain competitive asa country. the enter actually would people these that certainty no be would In order toavoid thereverse, i.e. high unemployment ratesamong Germany,to there migration high However,continued with even including as an ‘export nation’, they had not only to accept ref accept to only not had nation’,they ‘export an as including through or market, labour the into seniors and women returning to be integrated and educated. and integrated be to EU) the from coming migrants to addition (in countries third from migrants of influx an ensure to ple active in the job market. In the long term, although this trend this although term, long In the market. job the activein ple ugees for humanitarian reasons, but also join the race for those for race the join also but reasons, humanitarian for ugees level of development, to maintain its place in the global economy,global the in place its maintain development,to levelof systems. security social on burden the relieve and market labour crucial therefore It was digitalisation. and hours working longer be summed up without exaggeration as: Germany will be a mi be will Germany as: exaggeration without up summed be gration state or it won’t be there at all. A 2019 report A 2019 all. at won’tthere it be or state gration Germany had to prepare to deal with a shrinking number of peo of number a shrinking with deal to prepare to had Germany average between 2018 and 2060.and average2018 between a growing number of migrants, witha steadily increasingnumber a growing numberof skilled workers have to be brought to Germany,workersto skilled brought havebe had to others all but of pensioners and the likely collapse of the system, not only did only not system, the of collapse likely the and pensioners of on 146,000a year be should admissions migrant of rate optimum or bringing from rates, birth higher wave,through migration est lat the by either reversed, be actually not could it eased be could

The laws will come into force on 1 January 2020 and are part of the strate the of part are and 2020 1 January on force into come will The laws On 7 June 2019 the Bundestag voted through a package of seven laws and and laws seven of a package through voted Bundestag the 2019 On 7 June ‘Zuwanderung und Digitalisierung: Wie viel Migration aus Drittstaaten Drittstaaten aus Migration viel Wie Digitalisierung: und ‘Zuwanderung workers. Europäische Webseite für Integration für Webseite Europäische gy adopted by the German government in December 2018 to attract skilled skilled attract to 2018 December in government German the by adopted gy posal more stringent. On 28 June the Bundesrat approved the package. package. the approved Bundesrat the June 28 On pro stringent. more government posal original the making after Germany, in employment up eöit e dush Abisak künftig’ Arbeitsmarkt deutsche der benötigt amendments to make it easier for foreigners from outside the EU to take take to EU the outside from foreigners for easier it make to amendments 37 . The report concluded that the that concluded The report . , 12.02.2019, ec.europa.eu. 12.02.2019, , , uoen Commission, European 36 found that found ------

• The current phase of the integration debate, theintegration which alsotakes into The current phaseof 39 38 40 Especially since the latest OEDC research shows that Germany is Germany that shows research OEDC latest the since Especially Three 2. not soattractive tohighly skilledworkers. It ranks 12 Canada, Australia, Sweden and Switzerland, among others among Switzerland, SwedenAustralia,and Canada, are discussed. are constitutes what about assumptions fundamental the analysing started in Germany in 2015, is focused on defining and critically and defining on focused is 2015, in Germany in started successful integration. Below, the three most controversial ones controversial most three Below,the integration. successful osdrto te eeomns f h mgain rss which crisis migration the of developments the consideration

Holocaust, and the subsequent process of dealing with the with dealing of process subsequent the and Holocaust, the and Reich Third the of legacy and crimes the of Because gung ations with the nation the with ations consequences of Germany’s history ( history Germany’s of consequences 26.07.2018, welt.de. 26.07.2018, The struggle of the 1970s conservatives to create a ‘new West German German West ‘new a create to conservatives 1970s the of struggle The ‘Deutschland ist für ausländische Fachkräfte nur mäßig attraktiv’ mäßig nur Fachkräfte ausländische für ist ‘Deutschland See the interview with Ulrich Schmidt-Denter, professor at the University University the at professor Schmidt-Denter, Ulrich with interview the See Federal Republic of Germany (published in the 1990s) goes even further, further, even goes 1990s) the in (published Germany of Republic Federal patriotism’ and their demand for greater historical awareness has been been has awareness historical greater for demand their and patriotism’ described well by Jacob S. Eder in: in: S. Eder Jacob by well described Cologne: of Allgemeine furter controversies and the following. Marion Gräfin Dönhoff’s book on the Chancellors of the of Chancellors the on book Dönhoff’s Gräfin Marion following. the and The integration mans possible tions be al self-confident identity aware ), German society was unable to develop positive associ developpositive to unable was society ),German its have assumptions own to “Viele Migranten finden es belastend, Deutsche zu sein” zu Deutsche belastend, es finden Migranten “Viele of integrate no in

the identity. , 29.05.2019, faz.net. 29.05.2019, , a more complexes and values of

migrants self-assured 40 . Those who identified with national with identified who Those . of with relaxed they successful and a nation Lęk przed Holocaustem przed Lęk have will can fashion about to only Vergangenheitsbewälti approach offer, integration – that be 39 their . successful They constantly because …, …, their culture, th , lower than need op. cit. op. it nation 38 if , Frank , is , p. 223 p. 223 , to ques , Welt, , .

and Ger not - - be - - - -

27 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 28 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 41

f pltcas ae atrd n ue te lgn o ‘re of slogans the used and captured have politicians AfD This paradigm was shaken up during the 2006 World Cup World 2006 the during up shaken was paradigm This were often pushed to the right-wing fringes of politics. In politics. of fringes right-wing the to pushed often were or their tolerance. Nevertheless, many peo Nevertheless,many tolerance. their or Union European identity elements into their rhetoric. Thomas de Maizière, de Thomas rhetoric. their into elements identity the towards attitude their affect not did and ‘right-wing’ not to brought team football national the achievementsof the in nationalpride not equalchauvinism andthattheoutbreakof in this and did not understand that other nations felt no need tion of the German national team distasteful. team national German the of tion their for shame of sense and self-criticism This other. the to to juxtapose those two identities and that one was not a threat ple still found such demonstrations of patriotism and adora and patriotism of demonstrations such found still ple felt that singing the national anthem and waving flags was flags waving and anthem national the singing that felt history, and the urge to be ‘super-Europeans’,be paradoxically to urge the history,and gaining national pride’ and ‘renationalising’ history.Seeing ‘renationalising’ and pride’ national gaining their People origin. also gether German citizens regardless of did patriotism that out turned it Germany,when in games gued it was superior to the national identity. They were alone Christian Democratic politicians also began to introduce some a ‘monopoly on morality’ on a ‘monopoly a positive reaction from part of the conservative electorate, conservative the of part from reaction a positive so far as to manifest itself in suggesting that Germany had Germany that suggesting in itself manifest to as far so Europeanar their and up identity built Germans some stead, ‘Germanness’ to attachment their of spoke and sentiments ority, which at the time of the migration crisis almost went almost crisis migration the of time the at ority,which superi of a sense and self-confidence excessiveengendered 11.07.2019,faz.net. B. Kohler, Kohler, B. pp. 9–11. hoff, ders whether Germany has ever had an identity of its own. M. Gräfin Dön M. Gräfin own. its of identity an had ever has Germany whether ders have to difficult was it that but loyalty, deserved Germany that claiming a feeling of ‘love for the homeland’ in relation to it. The author even won even The author it. to relation in homeland’ the for ‘love of a feeling Kanclerz De rf, i ses a Gt will’ Gute das stets die Kraft, ‘Die e Republik i Federalne 41 . j Niemie c jakic h Fakutr Allgemeine, Frankfurter , ni e znamy ,Warszawa 1999, ------The idea that the success of integration depends on the strength strength the on depends integration of success the that The idea win, I’m a German. If we lose, I’m an immigrant”. The heated immigrant”.I’mThe heated an lose, If we I’ma German. win, havenot anchor”.does whoethical an wewhen ourselves ourselves iden in our confident in are and “The that 2016 Interior,in the argued of a Minister still while If they could freely and emotionally identify with the country country the with identify emotionally and freely could If they my “For saying a T-shirt presented had he whom to Russia, Erdoğan Tayyip Recep more we as Germans are confident in ourselves, our culture, our ourselves, in confident are Germans as we more o h fre, ic eeyn nes sne f belonging, of sense a needs everyone since former, the to distanced be to appropriate it considered and homeland the for love their of displays avoided themselves Germans the show should they that expectation the was third-generation, allegations the underlay what that claimed effectively they voic the included and policy integration Germany’s of tion tity… a strongly anchored Christian will have alien less fear of flourish can Tolerance integration. promote and tolerance president”. He accused his critics of racism and said: “If we “If we said: and racism of critics his president”.He accused his family after he was pictured with the Turkish president, Turkish the with pictured was he after family his on n emn. hi pit f iw a qie striking: quite was view of point Their Germany. in born ation/dominance by strangers ( a social identity, while Germans themselves were making it making were themselves Germans identity,while a social country.home the to attachment about were expectMigrants Germany,to while evengratitude,attachment or a particular against s f on pol wt a irn bcgon wo were who background migrant a with people young of es condi the dissected this of wake the in followed that debate and himself on attacks racist the to a reaction was decision his He said team. football national German the from down after place took which debate the in ent pres also was patriotism and identity national Germany’s of our freedom and our origins, the more we will be able to show of origin, and not the country where they lived, they turned they lived, they where country the not and origin, of follow.to models role no had they yet opposite, the do to ed Özil and other migrants, whether recent arrivals or arrivals recent whether migrants, other and bfr te ol Caposi in Championship World the before , Überfremdung Mesut Özil Mesut ) than someone stepped ------29 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 30 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 • 43 42

‘on a trial a trial ‘on While they consider Germany their home because they were they because home their Germany consider they While versy around their behaviour or attitude in a specific situa a specific in attitude or behaviour their around versy This is a slightly softer version of the concept of of concept the of version softer a slightly is This means. Nevertheless, Germans expect newcomers to become newcomersto Nevertheless,expect means. Germans felt passport a German merely but background ethnic man the leading culture, which is related to the assumption dis assumption the to related is which culture, leading the questioned. be would ‘Germanness’ to claim their arose, tion citizens were they though as limbo, of a state in were they Ger no had who Germans those that showed also debate the fully assimilated, while “assimilation means castration and castration means “assimilation while assimilated, fully born in Germany or those who came to the country,should the to came who those or Germany in born un are and country the with bond no feel they here, born grate with. Proponents of this criterion, including prominent grate with. Proponents of CDU politicians such as and Thomas de Maizière, de Thomas and Spahn Jens as such politicians CDU stress in particular the requirement that all persons, whether contro any as soon as but rules,played the byand successful cussed above – that migrants should haveshould ‘something’inte migrants above –to that cussed it” to submit character without people only that whatknow not themselvesdo Germans the eventhough Germans, good are they that prove to pressure constant der Germany. with identify to difficult in expressed The opinions In 2000, , the then head of the CDU/CSU faction in the Bun the in faction CDU/CSU the of head then the Merz, Friedrich In 2000, “Eigentlich bin ich eine ganz normale Deutsche” normale ganz eine ich bin “Eigentlich tist Professor Bassam Tibi, who had written in the 1990s about the need for need the about 1990s the in written had who Tibi, Bassam Professor tist debate, meaning a “commonly accepted definition of what we understand understand we what of definition accepted a “commonly meaning debate, ‘German term the introduced and culturalism) (multi policy migration red-green the of assumptions the attacked destag, a social and political consensus based on European values. European on based consensus political and a social The term culture”. our as All with the and those

fundamental articles the period’. They were accepted as long as they were they as long as accepted were They­period’. German who

of want

the values culture

German to Leitkultur live of and in

the Constitution. had been invented by political scien Germany language state, Leitkultur especially , Welt , should 42 and . , 23.07.2018, welt.de. 23.07.2018, , should ’ into the political political the into ’ Leitkultur be the familiar accept spirit 43 ------, - - - 44

values, integration could not succeed. He enumerated vari He enumerated succeed. not could integration values, Thomas de Maizière, the then Minister of the Interior,the spoke of Minister then the Maizière, de Thomas without knowing and embracing the catalogue of German of catalogue the embracing and knowing without Bild amSonntag in a similar tone in his op-ed on the leading culture for the for culture leading the on op-ed his in tone a similar in be acceptable of enforcement or place) taken had migrants by aggression and harassment (where pools swimming in ex society’s of formulation a clear for also but integration), interviews merous nu in out pointed Spahn years, recent of waves migration to the role of religion, which should serve to cement German cement serveto should which religion, of role the to un consequently,to and chapters, darker its tory,including his and culture German with acquainted be to necessity the and Jews of persecution that and offered ‘enrichment’ tures pectations regarding refugees and migrants. As an example, As an migrants. and refugees regarding pectations unacceptable in German culture. He therefore called not only for the adoption of appropriate legislation (e.g. a new law on law (e.g. a new legislation appropriate of adoption the for life of German Muslim communities.Muslim German of life haviour by the police and severe unacceptable punishment of carers and instructors by action decisive for call the cited he women’sequality, recognise were to failure or homosexuals, hands, showing your face, and introducing spokeyourself), of ­burqa’. a leadHe praised culture and the argued notion that of vastness the also but newcomers, of number the of because German society for the worse. He also said that not all cul all not that said He also worse. the for society German articles on the dignity of every the articles on the human dignity being. of Speaking of example, for including, constitution, the respect absolutely society rather than sparking conflicts. Other elements of the of elements Other conflicts. sparking than rather society ous social norms concerning greetings in Germany (shaking Germany in greetings concerning norms social ous the regulate must state the believesthat also Spahn conduct. changing risked thought he which differences, cultural of derstand the special attitude towards Israel. He also pointed He also Israel. towards attitude special the derstand 19.07.2017, welt.de. 19.07.2017, R. Alexander, J. Schuster, J. Schuster, R. Alexander, in April 2017, tellingly entitled ‘We are not ‘We are entitled tellingly2017, April in 44 that they were unprecedented not only not unprecedented were they that “Nicht jede andere Kultur bereichert uns” bereichert Kultur andere jede “Nicht , Welt, , ------31 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 32 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 45

‑conservativechange’ Germanythroughout A separate position in this debate was taken by the so-called the by taken was debate this in position A separate make an integration effort and make their own contribution own their make and effort integration an make to expected be wouldhowever, newcomers nity.In return, Germanness. Such created notions stereotypes of the of icule with it filling at attempts that said and struggle, ideological described wear”.She they what and to listen they what in, to this life. this to of lexicon the to belonging a concept as culture leading the a spe as thing such no was there that said Özoğuz tegration. in for government German the of plenipotentiary then the (SPD),Aydan byÖzoğuz expressed was integration for tance impor its and culture leading Germany’s about debate the to published in early 2018 by Alexander Dobrindt, head of the of head Dobrindt, Alexander by 2018 early in published fine the values of the constitution as a foundation for equal for a foundation as constitution the of values the fine history had been shaped to a greater extent a greater byto shaped been had and migration history left-wing camp. The SPD and the Greens sharply criticised the Similar ideas were presented in the ‘Conservative Manifesto’‘Conservative the in presented were ideas Similar believed was the advantage Germany. and strength of Instead, she diversity,which in community of a sense not barriers, Özoğuz proposed concluding a social compact that would de would that compact a social concluding proposed Özoğuz for called who Bundestag, the in group parliamentary CSU West( the with ties Germany’s German leading culture included ‘enlightened patriotism’ and a revival of the leading culture that could guide ‘bourgeois guide could that culture leading the of a revival statements by the Christian Democrats. An extreme response opportunities for all to participate in the life of the commu the of life the in participate to all for opportunities content would always absurdity slip and into rid the realm of believepeople “whatrelevant be not should it and diversity” cific German culture (apart from the language), and that “our project. integration European the to commitment country’s For more information, see: K. Frymark, K. Frymark, see: information, more For the CSU’s sovereign duchy? , OSW, Warsaw 2019, pp. 13–14, www.osw.waw.pl. pp. 13–14, 2019, Warsaw OSW, , Westbindung The free state of Bavaria. The end of of The end Bavaria. of state The free 45 . ), as well as the as well as ), ­ ------• 46

‘Germanness’ – understood as a form of self-privilege which self-privilege of a form as understood ‘Germanness’ – Apart from the willingness of the ‘newcomers’Apart from the willingness of to actively par This applies in particular to the older generation in Germa in generation older the to particular in applies This will apply to all Germans, both ‘new’ and ‘old’. all, Ger First of not have any impact on one’s position in the labour market labour the in position one’s on impact anyhave not assume also should citizen community.A German the of ity them of care take to able are they that convinced are mans consequently,and, isolation even or peace ny,expected who the private sphere, play a subordinate role in society and must own their through advancement social achieve can they that the of some mentioned others.also Münkler exclusionof the them accepting by change to itself society of willingness the concerns also challenge the of part society, a key in ticipate factor concerns recognition of the form and content of the of content and form the of recognition concerns factor part be them i.e. letting them), tolerating just not (and fully life partners is everyis person’spartners cannot life and decision individual be decided by other family members. However,decisivemembers. familythe other by decided be all of the ‘new Germans’ are assigned a normative identity, a normative assigned are Germans’ ‘new the of all solidar and support the on rely exceptionalcases in only and should respect the principle that faith and beliefs belong to belong beliefs and faith that principle the respect should selvesownfamilytheir their through and work property) (or omtet n proa efr. eody sc a person a such Secondly, effort. personal and commitment German’(‘ ‘being of characteristics record. their people’sother with of confrontation assessment avoid to them allows and competition against them defends Münkler to According it. of constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. In this way,Germany. In this of RepublicFederal the of constitution and lifestyle of choice the Furthermore, offices. public in or H. Münkler, M. Münkler, M. Münkler, H. Münkler, Integration the tical. German German migrants, The new

integration society, must and Germans especially both concern Die neuen Deutschen

policy. groups will 46 not Gras hud renounce should Germans , that be should only das Deutschsein das both part …, …, newcomers become those op. cit. op. of it , pp. 287–290. , born which the ’), which’), here object but is scep also and - - - - - of -

33 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 34 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 48 47

Years later, it can be said that, firstly, this aspect of the Ger the of aspect firstly, this that, said be can it later, Years 18–90 wr ue t isi a es o pie n belong in pride of sense a instil to used were (1989–1990) which has to meet different requirements and is a process, not It was argued at that time that the crimes of the Nazi era and era Nazi the of crimes the that time that at argued It was man historical narrativememory is still prominent and takes integra social further to also but patriotism, of model man sense this Extending people. the amongst nation the to ing Germany of reunification the and Germany East in munism the form of a ‘turn towards the future’ the towards a ‘turn of form the burden a place not should them of memory enduring the of parts western and eastern the of inhabitants the of tion – patriotism’ people of the German Democratic Republic and the abolition the and Republic Democratic German the of people for patriotism in 2009–2010 during important anniversary important during 2009–2010 in patriotism for Germany, together with the ever more numerous migrants. numerous more ever the with Germany,together ideologi to attempted previously had politicians German adding a new founding myth to the idea of ‘constitutional of idea the to myth founding a new adding citizenship. awardthe or of birth of whether act, an state (Germany) and the 20 the and (Germany) state on the newcomers and stand in the way of their integration. integration. their of way the in stand and newcomers the on Ger the crystallise to only not intended was communism, of and successes political and economic Germany’s to pride of 60 The celebrations. formula a new develop and society in migrants include cally This also means the end of the dominance of German culture and its role role its and culture German of dominance the of end the means also This This idea assumes that the national bond is to be created through participa through created be to is bond national the that assumes idea This wants it to be different, but history cannot be the only point of reference reference of point only the be cannot history but different, be to it wants interpreta In his future’. the towards a ‘turn of context this in speaks who Source: Source: tion, the notion of a nation is inextricably linked to its history and nobody nobody and history its to linked inextricably is a nation of notion the tion, is framework whose (i.e. citizenship), community political a single in tion uniformity of society and is therefore open to newcomers from outside. outside. from newcomers to open therefore is and society of uniformity referring to the practice of the United States, does not assume the cultural cultural the assume not does States, United the of practice the to referring can be found in an article by Tobias Hans, Prime Minister of the , Saarland, the of Minister Prime Hans, Tobias by article an in found be can idea an patriotism, Constitutional constitution. federal the by determined memory and German patriotism as the of guardian German identity. An interesting thread of such thinking K.M. Zalewski 47 , that of the ‘peaceful revolution’ staged by the by revolution’staged ‘peaceful the of that , , The Berlin Republic. Evolution of Germany’s politics of of politics Germany’s of Evolution Republic. The Berlin th niesr o te onig f the of founding the of anniversary , OSW, Warsaw 2009, aei.pitt.edu. 2009, Warsaw OSW, , th anniversary of the fall of com of fall the of anniversary 48 which should allow should which ------49

integration first, and only then integrate those refugees who refugees those integrate then only and first, integration of integration the serve to row,unsuitable is history its since the new German society to focus on the challenges of tomor of challenges the on focus to society German new the them. Secondly, the efforts to integrate people in the eastern the in people integrate Secondly, to them. efforts the shame the forget never will Germany that certain is it time, people with such deeply diverse backgrounds. At the same At the backgrounds. diverse deeply such with people ful chapters of its history and still takes responsibility for responsibility takes still and history its of chapters ful government – with some degree of irony – to deal with their with deal to irony – of degree some with government – arrived with the migration wave of 2015–2016 wavearrived migration the with of states of Germany by appreciating their contribution to the to contribution their appreciating by Germany of states equal citizens of their state and haveand state their repeatedly the on called of citizens equal like feel not do still Germany of parts eastern in People cess. suc a great Germany have been not a unified developmentof “ ­Allgemeine, 23.07.2019, faz.net. See also: the 2018 Arte documentary documentary Arte 2018 the also: See faz.net. 23.07.2019, R. Koecher, Koecher, R. ronment’. ronment’. a democrat solidarity in and freedom, ic and peace in future ‘a common is is What unite history. to meant a common have not does it because society a migrant in Integriert doch erst mal uns! mal erst doch Integriert T. Hans, T. Hans, 6.06.2019, faz.net. 6.06.2019, Ds sdush Identitätsgefühl’ ostdeutsche ‘Das ­‑ based society, in prosperity and in caring for the envi the for caring in and prosperity in society, based ‘Deutsch – eine Frage des Bekenntnisses’ des Frage eine ‘Deutsch – ” . , Frankfurter Allgemeine, Frankfurter , 49 . Petra Köpping: , Frankfurter Frankfurter , - - - - - 35 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 36 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 The challenge for German decision-makers (but also for society for also (but decision-makers German for The challenge Center Research Pew the of statistics the citing out, points Tibi 53 52 51 50 IV. in Nuremberg and46%in Stuttgart) 20% to increase will Muslims of percentage the Washington, in background migrant 17.7 millionof already people are There ible. total population (e.g. Germans without a migration background a migration without (e.g. Germans population total now,not time has Christianity.Germany on Fora long based ture population, i.e. four million, are Muslims. As Professor Bassam As Professor Muslims. are million, i.e. four population, living in Germany (out of 82.7 million) and more than 5% of the of 5% than more and 82.7 million) of (out Germany in living been an ethnically homogeneous state and this fact seems irrevers group, the butnotthe dominantone, i.e. they donotexceed 50%of Contrary to what some politicians and supporters of AfD or Pegida or Pegida AfD to what some Contrary politicians and supporters of an ethnically homogeneous country with a dominant leading cul leading a dominant with country homogeneous ethnically an as a whole) will be to find a common identity base for all German all for base identity a common find to be will a whole) as every by reported were sentiments such growing: is a religion) 44.6% Main, am Frankfurt in population the 46.9%of for account second respondent in the Bertelsmann Foundationstudy Bertelsmann the in respondent second externally. Politicians must alleviate the identity fears reinforced fears identity externally.the alleviate must Politicians and internally both difficult, very be to set is task This citizens. than rather ideology (perceiveda political Islam as from threat of largest the only now are Germans country,ethnic the of part ern 2050 by population German the of whetherabout Germanynot is dispute the claim, be future in will

(“We are the people”) and called for change and political reform. political and change for called and people”) the (“We are Jdr wie ih dn sa as Bedrohung’ als Islam den sieht Zweite ‘Jeder Rasch, M. B. Tibi, A paraphrase of the slogan of demonstrations staged after 1989 in the Ger the in 1989 after staged demonstrations of slogan the of A paraphrase 5.07.2019, nzz.ch. 5.07.2019, www.zeit.de. Ende entgegen’ Ende e wcsn We il uoa ai umgehen?’ damit Europa will Wie wachsen: ter man Democratic Republic. The demonstrators chanted “Wir sind das Volk” Volk” das sind “Wir chanted The demonstrators Republic. Democratic man

“WHO MANAGING CHANGE: CHANGE: MANAGING ‘Der Anteil Muslime an der europäischen Bevölkerung wird wei wird Bevölkerung europäischen der an Muslime Anteil ‘Der ‘In deutschen Städten sieht die Mehrheitsgesellschaft ihrem ihrem Mehrheitsgesellschaft die sieht Städten deutschen ‘In WILL , Neue Zürcher Zeitung Zürcher Neue , BE THE PEOPLE?”

, 9.07.2019,nzz.ch. , 51 52 . In large cities in the west the in cities In large . . At the sametime, thesense Zeit , 50 , Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zeitung, Zürcher Neue , Online, 11.07.2019, 11.07.2019, Online, 53 . - - - - - At this stage of the debate it is possible to hypothesise that in the in that hypothesise to possible is it debate the of stage At this 56 55 54 wide future prospects for them for prospects future wide In the ‘national’ vision, Tobias Hans, a Christian Democratic pol Democratic a Christian Hans, Tobias vision, ‘national’ In the integration”. This definition of a nation as proposed by Hans is in is Hans proposed by as a nation integration”. of definition This European of way the in stand not does also but identity regional laws,rath its but and state bythe imposed a concept to not refers religion” or ethnicity origin, the of irrespective it, nation), meaninga “nationcomprisingallthosewho identifywith ‘Bekenntnisnation’term (literally,the by using nity professed the a commu such described Saarland, of Minister Prime and itician two between manoeuvre will affiliations, political their on ing maintain itsleadershipintheEuropean Unionorhinderitsefforts tification to anyone who wishes to live in Germany and opening and Germany in live to wishes who anyone to tification positive iden of a means offering process, this facilitate to tended cre to is both of The aim features. common possess out, turns helm the at stay to edr mng t cnoiae oit ad ae t wr that aware it make and society consolidate to manage leaders background, will subscribe to a common set of values and rights. and values of set a common to subscribe will background, German which in The manner migration. of wave latest by the Germany is irrevocably a multi-ethnic state, manage this social this manage state, a multi-ethnic irrevocably is Germany ate a community in which all citizens, regardless of their cultural their of citizens,regardless all which in a community ate search for a unifying sense of identity, decision-makers, depend identity,decision-makers, of sense a unifying for search er a way of self-reflection by a nation which “does not avoid its avoid not “does which a nation by self-reflection of a way er it which, one, ‘social’ the and one ‘national’ the visions: distinct alloweither will it, Germanygowith that emotions changeto and

6.06.2019, faz.net. 6.06.2019, T. Hans, T. Hans, See: See: Hans also answers the question of who is a German: everyone who identi who everyone a German: is who of question the answers also Hans fieswith the Bekenntnisnation. Therewill no longer be negativelycharged terms such as ‘German Turk’ or ‘Turk with a German passport’. Hans con Hans passport’. a German with ‘Turk or Turk’ ‘German as such terms no. 3. cludes that the possibility for people to hold dual citizenship should be be should citizenship dual hold to people for possibility the that cludes odsłona Nowa dziej? abolished because a citizen should be loyal to one state. one to loyal be should a citizen because abolished A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, ‘Niemcy i Unia Europejska: kto boi się bar się boi kto Europejska: i Unia ‘Niemcy A. Kwiatkowska-Drożdż, ‘Deutsch – eine Frage des Bekenntnisses’ 54 . German Angst’, German 56 .

Polski Przegląd DyplomatycznyPrzeglądPolski , Frankfurter Allgemeine, Allgemeine, Frankfurter , 55 . The notion The notion . 2019, 2019, ------37 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 38 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019 (even if it is historically charged in the German mind), part of the mind),German the of in chargedhistoricallypart is it (evenif The Christian Democrats will choose to use the concept of nation of concept the use to choose will Democrats The Christian 57 which is not a common occurrence inmainstreampolitical debate Both on the left and on the right there are more and more voices more and more are there right the on and left the on Both state, nation the and nation the about a discussion for calls Hans justification being that it denotes a political notion that mobilis that notion a political denotes it that being justification negligence not to show and promote a progressive, open formula open a progressive, promote and show to not negligence citizens of identity political the for important increasingly becoming is it migration, Europe globalisation, as such notions by (dominated Germany in for the love of one’s homeland. That is because integration will integration because is That homeland. one’s of love the for an integration, etc.).an He justifies call this sayingby nation the that arguing that it was a mistake to reject patriotism, and an act of of act an and patriotism, reject to a mistake was it that arguing state is still relevant, and is not an obsolete, useless idea. On the On the idea. useless obsolete, an not is and relevant, still is state may who extremists left-wing or right-wing to left be not should only bepossibleif,inadditiontothewelfare system, thestatealso and globalisation by posed challenges the of face the contrary,in article his in why is This ends. own their to it use and it deform such as and others, help to people encourages and solidarity es

(cf. footnote 16) in 2016 between the author and philosopher Rüdiger Sa Rüdiger philosopher and author the between 2016 in 16) (cf. footnote 14.05.2016, 14.05.2016, Merkel of putting Germany on the same footing as failed states by saying saying by states failed as footing same the on Germany putting of Merkel One of the threads in the extremely heated debate mentioned before before mentioned debate heated extremely the in threads the of One Constitutional Court, who claims that “the idea of the state defined through through defined state the of idea “the that claims who Court, Constitutional the only large political entity that more or less works” and the respond the and works” less or more that entity political large only the immaturity of opponents his accuses who Münkler, right: is who It is seen be to continues. The dispute borders. its all control to possible not is it that like to see the return of borders national border services? See: See: services? border kowska-Drożdż, national borders of return the see to like bor its protecting stop sovereignty, its up give to directly Germany led has capa very the concerned other the on Münkler Herfried scientist litical its borders and people, as it is seen by Merkel’s critics, is a 19 is critics, Merkel’s by seen is it as people, and borders its that policy erroneous an pursuing of Merkel accused Sloterdijk magazine, bilities of, and the need for, the nation state. In an interview for interview In an state. nation the for, need the and of, bilities ents (from Germany, France or Italy), the vast majority of whom would would whom of majority vast the Italy), or France Germany, (from ents as state nation the for life long “a predicts who Sloterdijk Or concept”? accused hand, other the on Safranski, migrants. by flooded be and ders po the and hand, one the on Sloterdijk Peter philosopher the and franski and strategic naivety, and Andreas Vosskuhle, President of the German German the of President Vosskuhle, Andreas and naivety, strategic and tygodnikpowszechny.pl. ­ Filozof patrzy na kryzys migracyjny kryzys na patrzy Filozof 57 . , Tygodnik Powszechny Tygodnik , th . Kwiat A. century Cicero ------,

AfD politicians come to power.to come politicians AfD The implementation of both of these political visions would flesh would visions political these of both of The implementation acceptance for need human the on based also is The ‘social’vision into a homogeneous whole, but rather the universal integration integration universal the rather but whole, a homogeneous into What role. important an play models role as serve who migrants of successes economic and social the which in model integration possibly,‘state’.and, It replac ‘society’ of notions the proposes it exclusion. Instead, of a tool as serving ethnicallychargedand as it identity. the German state could change, however, once Merkel leaves or leaves Merkel however,once change, could state German the newcomers of this conceptproposesisnota unilateralintegration lives in this country”). This way of looking at German society and society German at looking country”).liveswaythis This in of and belonging. However, it avoids the concept of ‘nation’,seeing of concept the avoidsHowever, it belonging. and der, der in diesem Land lebt Land diesem in der der, “ that: proposition Merkel’s Angela Chancellor out society. immigration one within else, everyone with everyone of inclusiveprovidean to intended is This constitution. the downin everyoneduties,and rights livessame and the has by set rules the ( society immigration an of category the with community a national of notion classic the es an and a culture citizens – all means that and citizens – its offers Einwanderungsgesellschaft ANNA ” (“The people means everyone who everyone means ”(“The people

KWIATKOWSKA-DROŻDŻ Das Volk ist je ist Volk Das September 2019 September ) in which in ) - - 39 POINT OF VIEW 12/2019