DOCSLIB.ORG

REPATRIATION of REFUGEES from ARAB CONFLICTS: Conditions, Costs and Scenarios for Reconstruction

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
REPATRIATION of REFUGEES from ARAB CONFLICTS: Conditions, Costs and Scenarios for Reconstruction REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES FROM ARAB CONFLICTS: Conditions, Costs and Scenarios for Reconstruction Ibrahim Elbadawi Belal Fallah Jala Youssef Maryse Louis Roger Albinyana Samir Makdisi Semih Tumen FEMISE Euromed Report 2019 FEMISE Euromed Report 2019 REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES FROM ARAB CONFLICTS: CONDITIONS, COSTS AND SCENARIOS FOR RECONSTRUCTION Ibrahim Elbadawi Belal Fallah Jala Youssef Maryse Louis Roger Albinyana Samir Makdisi Semih Tumen First published in 2019 FEMISE and ERF Copyright © FEMISE Association This report received financial support from the European Union through the FEMISE project on “Support to Economic Research, studies and dia- logues of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership”. Any views expressed in this report are the sole responsibility of the authors. About the Authors Ibrahim Elbadawi is managing director of the ERF. Earlier, he served as director of research at the Dubai Economic Council, which he joined in March 2009. Before that, he was lead economist at the Development Research Group of the World Bank, which he joined in 1989. He has published widely on macroeconomic and development policy, dem- ocratic transitions and the economics of civil wars and post-conflict transitions. He was the thematic leader of the Natural Resource Man- agement and Economic Diversification theme at the ERF for five years and is a member of the advisory board of the Arab Planning Institute. He holds a PhD in economics and statistics from North Carolina State and Northwestern Universities. Belal Fellah earned his Ph.D. in 2008 in Regional Economics from the University of Saskatchewan- Canada. He currently works as a direc- tor of Research at Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute-MAS. His research interest and expertise cover regional and development economics, labor economics, and policy-program evaluation. During the past years, he has published a number of papers at international refereed journals including Journal of Development Economics, Jour- nal of Economic Geography, Papers in Regional Science, and Annals of Regional Science. He currently focuses his research on the Palestinian labor market, emphasizing the economic cost of conflict, commuting to the Israeli labor market, and linkages between the labor market and public sector Jala Youssef is a Consultant in the World Bank, Cairo Office at the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice. She is also a part-time Assistant Lecturer at the French Section of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University. Prior to joining the World Bank in 2018, she worked as a researcher at the Economic Re- search Forum (ERF). She previously worked for the Egyptian Govern- ment at the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Egyptian Competition Authority. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the Fac- ulty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, and an M.A. in Applied Economics from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. Maryse Louis PhD, is the General Manager of the FEMISE associa- tion, (Marseille, France), which she joined since its inception in 1999. Dr. Louis is also a member of staff of the Economic Research Forum (ERF, Cairo, Egypt), coordinator of FEMISE. Maryse holds a PhD in Economics from Aix Marseille University, France. Her research inter- est covers issues of development with particular focus on migration and refugees, inequalities and women empowerment in the Med re- gion. She also gained expertise on issues related to knowledge transfer and innovation Roger Albinyana is director of the Mediterranean Regional Policies and Human Development department at the European Institute of the Mediterranean. He is also associate professor at the Faculty of Eco- nomics of the University of Barcelona where he teaches international economic policy. He holds a MA in Economic History from the Uni- versity of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, a BA in Economics from Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona) and a BA in Business Administration and Management from the Open Univer- sity of Catalonia. From 2013 to 2016, he served as secretary general for Foreign and EU Affairs of the Government of Catalonia. Prior to that, from 2010 to 2013 he served as advisor on private sector development at the Secretariat of Union for the Mediterranean Samir Makdisi is Professor Emeritus of Economics and Founding Director of the Institute of Financial Economics, the American Univer- sity of Beirut (AUB). He is a former Minister of Economy and Trade, Republic of Lebanon, 1992, Deputy President of AUB, 1992-1998 and chair of the Board of Trustees, Economic Research Forum (Cai- ro),1993-2001 and since 2012 an elected member of the Board; and member of the Board of Directors of the Euro-Mediterranean Forum of Economic Institutes (FEMISE, Marseille); he has served as advisor to national governments and to various regional and international eco- nomic and financial organizations. Semih Tumen is an Associate Professor of Economics at TED Uni- versity. He is also affiliated with the ERF and IZA as a Research Fel- low. He received his PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago in 2012, MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2006, and BSc in Economics from the Middle East Technical University in 2000. He served as the Director General of Economic Research at the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. His research mainly concentrates on Labor Economics with a special focus on Migration and Refugees. Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One: Who are the Arab refugees? .............................................................................. 5 1.1 Introduction and objectives ......................................................................................... 5 1.2 Refugees by country of conflict .................................................................................. 6 1.3 Syrian refugees across the main host countries ....................................................... 8 1.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 28 Chapter Two: Enabling conditions, challenges, and processes ........................................ 31 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 31 2.2 Early repatriates ......................................................................................................... 32 2.3 Conditions for return ................................................................................................. 37 2.4 Other considerations .................................................................................................. 47 2.5 What does this mean for Arab repatriation? ........................................................... 51 2.6 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 58 Chapter Three: Repatriation: scenarios for conflict resolution and reconstruction ....... 65 3.1 Repatriation of refugees and their rights................................................................. 67 3.2 3.2 Reconstruction: definitions, scenarios, and impact on refugees .................... 69 3.3 Review of the literature on political settlements ................................................... 74 3.4 Typology of political settlement scenarios ............................................................. 81 3.5 Applying a political settlement typology to historic conflicts in some MENA countries ...................................................................................................................... 83 3.6 The nexus between political settlements and returned refugees in South Med conflict-affected countries ......................................................................................... 90 3.7 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 97 Chapter Four: Repatriation: potential contributions to post-conflict economic development .............................................................................................................................. 107 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 107 4.2 The economic situation in the conflict countries .................................................. 108 4.3 Results for Arab conflicts ......................................................................................... 112 4.4 Post-conflict growth potential ................................................................................. 116 4.5 Review of the existing results and country experiences ..................................... 122 4.6 Concluding remarks and policy perspective ........................................................ 129 Conclusions: Repatriation of refugees from the Arab conflicts: prospects and potential political and economic implications ...................................................................................... 137 Introduction | 1 Introduction The prospects for early re- taken. This would help to support patriation of refugees who have the most positive outcomes – pri- fled conflicts in Arab countries
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Diaspora Mobilization in Contexts of Political Uncertainties
    Diaspora Mobilization in Contexts of Political Uncertainties Exploring the potentials, limits and future roles of the Syrian civil society in the Middle East and Europe First Edition - November 2019 Acknowledgements This report has been written by Eleni Diker and Nora Jasmin Ragab from Maastricht University/UNU- MERIT. The authors would like to thank Mohammad Khalaf for his dedicated support with the finalization of this project, and further thank Zach Strain and Kelly Lifchez for providing much helpful assistance as well. We are particularly grateful for the support given by IMPACT in Germany, Lebanon and in Turkey as well as Syria Solidarity Campaign in the UK for the organization and facilitation of workshops and recruitment of participants. We also would like to thank Syrian artist Bassam Khabieh for allowing us to use some images from his stunning photograph archive documenting the effects of war inside Syria. Last, but not the least we would like to thank all the interview and workshop participants for giving us their time and for their willingness to share information about their work and experiences with us. Maastricht University has been commissioned to conduct this study by the Danish Refugee Council’s Civil Society Engagement Unit (CSEU). The project is supported by GIZ as part of the BMZ funded „Qualification Initiative for Local Administrative Structures and Civil Society (QICS)“ and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Photo Credits All photos by Bassam Khabieh except front page photo which is by Samara Sallam: “Memory” A ball made of razor barb wire and bells. The artist invited the audience to play with it during the exhibition in 2018 Disclaimer The views set out in this report are those of the authors and do not reflect the official opinion of the Danish Refugee Council, GIZ, FDFA, or Maastricht University.
    [Show full text]
  • Dignity and Humiliation: Identity Formation Among Syrian Refugees
    middle east law and governance 9 (2017) 282-297 brill.com/melg Dignity and Humiliation: Identity Formation among Syrian Refugees Basileus Zeno University of Massachusetts, Amherst [email protected] Abstract Since 2011 half of Syria’s population has been forced to flee its homes. Much research has focused on the macro-level challenges and post-conflict reconstruction plans. In this article, I focus on the micro-level by examining the dialectic of “humiliation” and “dignity” as a dynamic that shapes and transforms Syrian refugees’ identities through sustained interaction, and sometimes through struggle, with others, who can be pro- regime or pro-opposition Syrians, or pro-refugees or anti-refugees in hosting countries. Methodologically, I use an interpretive approach which focuses on context-specific meanings and their relation to power, seeking multifaceted understandings of refu- gees’ lived-experience. This research is based on ethnographic fieldwork and ordinary language interviews conducted in the United States, and semi-structured, open-ended interviews with Syrians in Germany and Turkey. I show that researching participants’ meaning-making in their own settings reveals the dynamics of humiliation and dig- nity as dialectically interwoven in specific situational contexts and shaped by refugees’ lived-experience in both the country of origin (in the past) and the hosting country (in the present). Keywords Arab Spring – Syrian refugees – humiliation – dignity – interpretivism * The author would like to thank Marc Lynch, Laurie Brand, and the participants in the pomeps workshop on Refugees and Migration Movements in the Middle East, Timothy Pachirat, Ben Nolan, and Katty Alhayek for their thoughtful feedback and comments on multiple drafts of this article.
    [Show full text]
  • Representation and Global Power in A
    Fordham University Masthead Logo DigitalResearch@Fordham Senior Theses International Studies Spring 5-19-2018 Representation and Global Power in a Multicultural Germany: A Discourse Analysis of the German Response(s) to the Presence of Syrian Refugees Kyle William Zarif Fordham University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fordham.bepress.com/international_senior Part of the International and Area Studies Commons Recommended Citation Zarif, Kyle William, "Representation and Global Power in a Multicultural Germany: A Discourse Analysis of the German Response(s) to the Presence of Syrian Refugees" (2018). Senior Theses. 7. https://fordham.bepress.com/international_senior/7 This is brought to you for free and open access by the International Studies at DigitalResearch@Fordham. It has been accepted for inclusion in Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of DigitalResearch@Fordham. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ! ! Representation and Global Power in a Multicultural Germany A Discourse Analysis of the German Response(s) to the Presence of Syrian Refugees ! ! ! ! ! ! Kyle Zarif Fordham University International Studies Program Global Affairs Track Thesis Seminar Professor: Dr. Hill Krishnan Primary Advisor: Dr. Hugo Benavides Email: [email protected] ! ! ! ! Zarif !1 ! Table of Contents! 1. Introduction I. Thesis Statement and Research Questions ......2 II. [Muslim] Refugees: A Great Challenge [for Germany and Europe] ......3 III. The EU and Syria: Framing the German Approach to Refugees ......5 IV. Cultural Politics and the Stigmatization of European Muslims ......8 V. Implications for Syrian Refugees ......10 !VI. Relevant Theory: Discourse(s), Knowledge and Global Power ......11 3. Syrian Refugees in the Mainstream German Media I.
    [Show full text]
  • Working Papers
    Working Papers www.mmg.mpg.de/workingpapers MMG Working Paper 19-04 ● ISSN 2192-2357 Shahd Seethaler-Wari Asylum Seekers of the Syrian Conflict: procedures and patterns of settlement in Germany Max Planck Institute for the Study of Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity Erforschung multireligiöser Max-Planck-Institut zur und multiethnischer Gesellschaften Shahd Seethaler-Wari Asylum Seekers of the Syrian Conflict: procedures and patterns of settlement in Germany MMG Working Paper 19-04 Max-Planck-Institut zur Erforschung multireligiöser und multiethnischer Gesellschaften, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity Göttingen © 2019 by the author ISSN 2192-2357 (MMG Working Papers Print) Working Papers are the work of staff members as well as visitors to the Institute’s events. The analyses and opinions presented in the papers do not reflect those of the Institute but are those of the author alone. Download: www.mmg.mpg.de/workingpapers MPI zur Erforschung multireligiöser und multiethnischer Gesellschaften MPI for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Göttingen Hermann-Föge-Weg 11, 37073 Göttingen, Germany Tel.: +49 (551) 4956 - 0 Fax: +49 (551) 4956 - 170 www.mmg.mpg.de [email protected] Abstract This paper reports the procedures of asylum and patterns of settlement of asylum seek- ers in Germany, with special focus on the asylum seekers of the Syrian conflict. Initially prepared for a workshop comparing policy responses and settlement outcomes of the Syrian conflict in several countries, this paper presents the German case address- ing the development of refugee intake, asylum application duration and results and access to family unification between the years 2015 and 2017.
    [Show full text]
  • Integration: the Cultural Politics of Migration and Nation in the New German Public
    University of Pennsylvania Masthead Logo ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations 2017 Integration: The ulturC al Politics Of Migration And Nation In The ewN German Public Kate Zambon University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Communication Commons Recommended Citation Zambon, Kate, "Integration: The ulturC al Politics Of Migration And Nation In The eN w German Public" (2017). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 2661. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2661 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2661 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Integration: The ulturC al Politics Of Migration And Nation In The ewN German Public Abstract This dissertation examines public discourse on culture and integration and asks how do mediated public discussions about integration reproduce norms of national culture and identity that operate to represent and manage “Other” (immigrant, minority, etc.) populations in the German context? Through a case study approach, this dissertation uses critical discourse theory to analyze public campaigns, media events, and mediated controversies since the mid-2000s that sought to define the qualifications for cultural citizenship. Although in recent years an increasing number of publications have addressed Germany’s diverse and transnational population, examinations of processes and policies of integration have tended to focus either on the level of the government or on the level of everyday life. Although ideas about integration and multiculturalism are predominantly forged through events and the surrounding representations in the media, the mid-level processes of the media sphere have been neglected in scholarship.
    [Show full text]
  • RECLAIMING HOME the Struggle for Socially Just Housing, Land and Property Rights in Syria,Iraq and Libya
    RECLAIMING HOME The struggle for socially just housing, land and property rights in Syria,Iraq and Libya Edited by Hannes Baumann RECLAIMING HOME The struggle for socially just housing, land and property rights in Syria, Iraq and Libya Edited by Hannes Baumann RECLAIMING HOME The struggle for socially just housing, land and property rights in Syria, Iraq and Libya Edited by Hannes Baumann Contributors Leïla Vignal Nour Harastani and Edwar Hanna Suliman Ibrahim Javier Gonzalez Ina Rehema Jahn and Amr Shannan Sangar Youssif Salih and Kayfi Maghdid Qadr Thomas McGee Not for Sale © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be printed, reproduced or utilized in any from by any means without prior written permission from the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the original authors. They do not necessarily represent those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Cartographic Design: Thiago Soveral Cover Illustration: Moshtari Hillal Graphic Design: Mehdi Jelliti Published in 2019 by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Regional Project «For Socially Just Development in MENA» TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword Thomas Claes ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 05 Introduction Hannes Baumann ........................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Syrian Refugees in the Sharing Economy and Technology Sector in Germany: a Neoliberal Approach to Integration and E
    The Role of Syrian Refugees in the Sharing Economy and Technology Sector in Germany: A Neoliberal Approach to Integration and Empowerment by Emma Grace Smith Program in International Comparative Studies Duke University Date: 17 April 2016 Dr. Lori Leachman, Supervisor Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with distinction in the Program in International Comparative Studies of Duke University Acknowledgements To Dr. Leachman – thank you for accompanying me on this journey starting two whole years ago. You have patiently helped me to transform my wandering thoughts into academic ideas and arguments. Your faith in my abilities brought me to this final result. Meanwhile, your artist spirit, economist mind, colorful personality, and insight have never stopped inspiring me. You have left a lasting mark on my Duke trajectory and my life as an advisor, mentor, and friend, and I hope this thesis reflects that. To Professor Settle – thank you for the calmness, kindness, and peace each time I walk into your office or classroom. Thank you for everything from your stories in ICS 495 to showing me the birds out of the window in Academic Advising to pushing my counter points further and further. Your grounding presence is just what every thesis student needs. Thank you for being a rock for me, and all of us. To my new entrepreneur and Syrian friends in Germany - thank you for near-missing your trains for an extra second on the phone with me, for brainstorming, reflecting and remembering, and for sending me articles and information relevant to my work. You are the heart of this research, and I’m so grateful for your contributions.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Doha and Geneva
    \ WORKING PAPER 11\ 2019 Beyond Doha and Geneva Peacemaking engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine- Westphalia and Germany Esther Meininghaus \ BICC Katja Mielke \ BICC supported by \ WORKING PAPER 11 \ 2019 PEACEMAKING EFFORTS OF AFGHANS AND SYRIANS IN NRW AND GERMANY \ E. MEININGHAUS & K. MIELKE SUMMARY For several decades now, Germany has become home to significant numbers of Afghans, and more recently Syrians, who have fled war. In thisWorking Paper, we analyse the political engagement for peace by Afghans and Syrians in Ger- many since the beginning of violent conflict in Afghanistan (1978) and Syria (2011). Departing from an understanding of peace processes as more than summits and diplomatic events, we focus on peacemaking initiatives ‘from below’ by Afghans and Syrians in Germany, with a particular emphasis on activities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), in a long-term perspective. As a guiding research question for this Paper, we ask: To what extent have Afghans and Syrians in NRW and other parts of Germany been able to engage in peacemaking, and how are these efforts linked to official talks and the situation inside Afghanistan and Syria? We argue that the different types of engagement we give evidence of, for instance, rallies, publications, the establishment of associations and even privately initiated dialogue forums for peace, constitute significant building blocks in peace processes. They demonstrate the agency of individuals and groups of Afghan and Syrian background to engage for peace and the potential impact they could have if acknowledged more widely. However, the same individuals and initiatives are usually excluded from official negotiations.
    [Show full text]
  • Mea Discussion Papers
    Qualifications, potentials and life courses of Syrian asylum seekers in Germany May Khourshed, Christian Hunkler, Romuald Méango, Axel Börsch-Supan 01-2019 MEA DISCUSSION PAPERS mea – Amalienstr. 33_D-80799 Munich_Phone+49 89 38602-355_Fax +49 89 38602-390_www.mea.mpisoc.mpg.de Qualifications, potentials and life courses of Syrian asylum seekers in Germany May Khourshed, Christian Hunkler, Romuald Méango, Axel Börsch-Supan Abstract: This contribution outlines some of the main findings of the “Qualifications, potentials and life courses of Syrian asylum seekers in Bavaria” study conducted in the second half of 2017. Our study adds to the literature on asylum seekers in several ways. First, in addition to collecting information on educational qualifications we assess human capital stock using aptitude tests. We also gauge German language abilities using objective tests and interviewer assessments. Second, we assess labor market capabilities by tracing migrants’ work experiences with a special focus on evaluating skill levels and skill acquisition over the years. Moreover, we measure subjective expectations to understand the investments migrants undertake in the host country. Lastly, we look at traumatic events which may hinder the successful structural integration of asylum seekers, given their often arduous journey to a host country. Therefore, we attempt to offer a broader understanding of Syrian asylum seekers in Germany. Zusammenfassung: In diesem Beitrag werden einige der wichtigsten Ergebnisse der Studie „Qualifikationen, Potenziale und Lebensverläufe syrischer Asylbewerber in Bayern“, welche im zweiten Halbjahr 2017 durchgeführt wurde, skizziert. Unsere Studie ergänzt die Literatur zu Asylbewerbern in mehrfacher Hinsicht. Zum einen wird zusätzlich zur Erfassung von Informationen zu Bildungsabschlüssen der Humankapitalbestand anhand von Eignungstests bewertet.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Participation of Refugees: Bridging the Gaps Political Participation of Refugees: Bridging the Gaps
    Political Participation of Refugees: Bridging the Gaps Political Participation of Refugees: Bridging the Gaps Lead authors: Armend Bekaj and Lina Antara Contributors: Tarig Adan, Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova, Zeina El-Helou, Ezra Mannix, Mukondeleli Mpeiwa, Caleb Otieno Opon, Nora Jasmin Ragab, Shoaib Sharifi and Tigranna Zakaryan As part of the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy project, this report was made possible by funding from the Robert Bosch Stiftung. © 2018 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance International IDEA publications are independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of International IDEA, its Board or its Council members. The electronic version of this publication is available under a Creative Commons Attribute- NonCommercialShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) licence. You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the publication as well as to remix and adapt it, provided it is only for non-commercial purposes, that you appropriately attribute the publication, and that you distribute it under an identical licence. For more information visit the Creative Commons website: <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/>. International IDEA Strömsborg SE–103 34 Stockholm Sweden Telephone: +46 8 698 37 00 Email: [email protected] Website: <http://www.idea.int> Cover illustration: Joshua Sowah Interior illustrations: KSB Design Design and layout: International IDEA ISBN: 978-91-7671-148-4 Created with Booktype:
    [Show full text]
  • Forum for International Criminal Justice Newsletter: December 2017 Video Highlights
    Forum for International Criminal Justice Newsletter: December 2017 Welcome to the IAP’s Forum for International Criminal Justice (FICJ) December 2017 Newsletter which focuses on the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including a roundup of video highlights, legal analysis, announcements, events, new publications and major news developments from the past month. Domestic news covered in this Newsletter includes: Former military officials convicted for crimes against humanity in Argentina; Prosecution demands life sentence in Ethiopia War Crimes case before Dutch Court; and Syrians in Germany file war crime cases against the Assad regime. *Please have a look at the FICJ forum page on the IAP website and feel free to contribute: the Forum provides individual prosecutors with a password protected space to post news, announcements, etc. and to pose questions to fellow prosecutors from around the world. Your contributions will also be posted in this monthly newsletter. Passwords are provided to IAP members – if you do not have a password, check your membership status by contacting the IAP Secretariat: [email protected]. Danya Chaikel – IAP FICJ Coordinator | email: [email protected] Video Highlights Click here to a watch a new short video on Click here to watch the ICC Prosecutor speak the Mechanism for International Criminal about her request to open an investigation in Tribunals entitled “Inside the MICT” on its Afghanistan, into crimes committed by the Join the FICJ community: WWW.IAPTaliban-ASSOCIATION.ORG/FICJ, Afghan security forces,/HOME and members establishment, mandate and functions. 1 Followof the usUS onarmed twitter: forces @iaprosecutors and the CIA.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Ten Years of German Citizenship Reform Simon Green
    Much Ado about Not-Very-Much? Assessing Ten Years of German Citizenship Reform Simon Green Forthcoming in Citizenship Studies 16/2 (2012) Contact Address: Politics and International Relations Aston University Birmingham B4 7ET United Kingdom Tel: 0044 121 204 3786 Email: [email protected] 2 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOT-VERY-MUCH? ASSESSING TEN YEARS OF GERMAN CITIZENSHIP REFORM Simon Green Abstract: This article examines the development and impact of German citizenship policy over the past decade. As its point of departure, it takes the 2000 Citizenship Law, which sought to undertake a full-scale reform and liberalisation of access to German membership. The article discusses this law’s content and subsequent amendments, focusing particularly on its quantitative impact, and asking why the number of naturalisations has been lower than originally expected. The article outlines current challenges to the law’s structure and operation and identifies potential trajectories for its future development. Keywords: Germany, citizenship, naturalisation, jus soli , jus sanguinis , dual citizenship Introduction Over the past twenty years, the study of citizenship in the developed world has been enriched by a major new sub-field: the analysis and explanation of patterns of and policies towards the acquisition of membership, both at birth and via naturalisation. The corpus of scholarship in this area is now substantial and nuanced, and in the context of European nation-states encompasses a wide range of aspects, including comparative empirical analyses (e.g. 3 Brubaker 1989, Hansen and Weil 2001, Bauböck et al . 2006), taxonomies of naturalisation regimes (e.g. Howard 2009) and detailed national case studies (e.g.
    [Show full text]