Migration and History. the Way to a Transnational Culture of Remembrance
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.SIAK-Journal – Journal for Police Science and Practice Jakubowicz, Linda Lilith Migration and History. The way to a transnational culture of remembrance SIAK-Journal − Journal for Police Science and Practice (International Edition/2019), 75-95. doi: 10.7396/IE_2019_H Please cite this articel as follows: Jakubowicz, Linda Lilith (2019). Migration and History. The way to a transnational culture of remembrance, SIAK-Journal − Journal for Police Science and Practice (International Edition Vol. 9), 75-95, Online: http://dx.doi.org/10.7396/IE_2019_H. © Federal Ministry of the Interior – Sicherheitsakademie / NWV, 2019 Note: A hard copy of the article is available through the printed version of the SIAK-Journal published by NWV (http://nwv.at). published online: 8/2019 2019 .SIAK-InternAtIonAl edItIon Migration and History The way to a transnational culture of remembrance The issue of migration is more relevant than ever. The variants of legal immigration to Austria are also increasingly being considered and discussed in the wake of the developments of the last few years – especially the experiences of the socalled “refugee crisis” of 2015. On the whole, this is happening ahead of widereaching efforts to gauge the issue of migration in its entirety and complexity more deeply than ever before, to develop state regulations and to arrive at a national migration strategy, which also takes global implications into consideration. Against this background, the 2015 establishment of the Migration Council under the direction of Paul Lendvai is to be judged as the continuation of its work in the Migration Commission as a consultative body of the competent departments in the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and – with the LINDA LILITH JAKUBOWICZ, establishment of Department III/13 (National, European and International Migration Researcher at the Institute of Strategies) – the creation of the corresponding administrative structures in the same. Science and Research at the Security Academy of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. O ne finding which precedes the ex the associated influx, especially to Vienna, planations given in the final report of the continue to form identity in this context – Migration Council is that Austria is clearly consider on the one hand the eager refer seen as an immigration country in terms of ence to the Vienna telephone directory net immigration figures. What sets it apart or the corresponding culinary traditions; from traditional immigration countries, on the other hand, the more recent immi such as the USA, Canada or Australia, is gration history –, particularly the labour the fact that this attribution is an integral migration from the former Yugoslavia part of the selfimage and national identity and Turkey from the 1960s on, which has of those states.1 The reasons for this are so far been little or barely researched and manifold, but should be seen ostensibly, rarely crops up in the public perception in that they have been heavily influenced and in national narratives. Fischer states: by immigration since their founding and “In the case of migrants from the coun this policy has largely been continued, tries of the former Yugoslavia, there is a combined with the active imprinting of the double lack of representation: they have corresponding narratives. equally seldom been treated in the history Migration has always played a significant of Vienna as they are prominently absent role for Austria as well. In particular, the time from contemporary mainstream discourses of the AustroHungarian monarchy and and spaces”.2 Yet, the influx of socalled 75 .SIAK-InternAtIonAl edItIon 2019 “migrant workers” has significantly in or emigration.” Moreover: “A differen fluenced the country and its social, cul tiated image of Austria would be important tural and economic development in many for social cohesion and could be developed ways.3 through a process of reflection and discus All the necessary political regulations sion in society as a whole.”7 relating to immigration in all areas4 also Recent activities8 – in particular around deal with those people who have already the 50th anniversary of the recruitment been living in Austria for some time agreements of Turkey and Yugoslavia in and whose children often already have 2014 and 2016 – that are increasing (but children. Hence, an Austrian (migration) starting from a low level) and deal with history and the visualisation and involve Austria’s recent migration history9 should ment of migrant living environments and also be judged against this background. positions also play an important role in The 2012 establishment of the Centre for the narrative of the majority. Last but not Migration Research, which is dedicated least, the examination of the history of to the research desideratum of historical migrant workers in Austria also includes migration research and not least on the an integrative and appreciative moment initiative of the former Deputy Governor for subsequent (or successor) generations, Wolfgang Sobotka10 and initiatives and because “(...) inclusion in a community exhibition projects at local and regional also occurs, among other things, through level – for example in Vorarlberg11, Tyrol12, inclusion in the collective memory of this Vienna13, Salzburg14 and Styria15 – may community”.5 also be understood in this context. The sociopolitical significance of this In the case of the abovementioned en subject is thus obvious and has been re deavours, the integrative function men cognised by both the Austrian Federal tioned is not central, because “(...) it is Government and the Expert Council for [ultimately] not just about the history of Integration6, part of the Federal Minis migrants, but also about the history of try for Europe, Integration and Foreign Austrian society, which has changed as a Affairs, which states in its 2015 Integra result of migration”.16 Thus, the demand tion Report under the heading “Austria as for stronger (historical) representation is a place of identification and affiliation”: not primarily focused on “helping migrant “Austria can and should create oppor women to achieve their rights”17, but much tunities to be accepted as a (new, first, second) rather that the inclusion of this part of homeland. (...) It is also necessary to create Austrian history frees up the view of one’s a realistic and uptodate image of Austria, own (common) past and thus enables it to which includes both historical and current be reflected upon, since “migration is one immigration and emigration as one of of the most crucial elements in understand its integral parts. The common image of ing European postwar history and the Austria is very much based on the stability present.”18 and homogeneity of its population, which It also touches on fundamental aspects was never a given in its history. (...) In of democracy policy19, because “[there is] official histography, subjects such as im no identity without history”.20 Moreover, migration, integration or national identity as Walter Hämmerle notes, “(...) it is also construction are only of minor significance highly relevant for the Republic whether and so, for example, there is no complete the people of this state will still feel picture of the history of either immigration Austrian and loyal to this community”.21 76 2019 .SIAK-InternAtIonAl edItIon Remembrance in this context represents an approach, immigrants (…) could serve a powerful historical “currency”.22 Espe as cultural bridges between national so cially the – thus far underrepresented – cieties in Europe and be the glue that binds (contemporary) historical research23 has cultures and societies together. (…) these a special responsibility here.24 Hence, groups could take on a crucial intermedi the contemporary historian Dirk Rupnow ating role, translating from one culture or recognised immigration after the end of the society to the other.”31 Since, as Helmut Second World War generally as a “blank König states, “something which has ear spot” in Austrian national memory, which ned the name of a collective European me is certainly also evident when looking at mory (...) is so far not in sight”.32 the state of research.25 A national migration history inevitably involves transnational (European as well “hiStoRioGRaPhicaL EM as global) interdependencies33 that need to PowERMEnt”26 – MiGRation be taken into account. The complexity of HISTORY AS PART OF THE the process is reflected by the various ques NATIONAL NARRATIVE tions that arise in this context. In addition Integrating migrants27 into the national to those with a corresponding representa historiography represents one way, but – tion and participation of migrants, there is, as, for example, Ohlinger noted for Ger as Cornelia Kogoj notes, for example the many – not an easy one, to help increase fact as to whether “(...) the structures and social representation, visibility and “em global causes of labour migration [should] powerment”, i.e. selfempowerment in be worked out and presented”. 34 The dis the sense of empowering migrants within course on the subject of migration – along society. This is not least due to the fact with its historical significance as well as the that the majority of the members of the recognition of this part of Austrian history majority society do not expect a differen as part of the majority history – has thus tiated examination of their own (national) far largely been conducted “via migrants history, but rather a confirmation of known and not with them”35; so far, a largely narratives in order not to jeopardise their “symbolic exclusion” has prevailed here.36 own – weakly imprinted – national identi This also applies to a large extent to (con ties28. “The demand for immigrant history temporary) research. This makes it clear among a larger national audience is prob how important a “bottomup” approach37 ably limited as an effect of fairly fixed is in the depiction of migrant memory and national identities in Europe. The reader the establishment of a collective culture of seeks confirmation and reaffirmation of the remembrance.