Focus on Immigration
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ASA Alumni Magazine, March 2014 No. 6 FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION HIGH PROFILE INTERVIEW WITH ILMA RAKUSA ALLIANZ SUMMER ACADEMY 2013 – ASA GOES TRANSATLANTIC SELECTED JACKPOT PROJECTS 2014 PROFESSIONALS ON THE MOVE – OUTCOME OF THE ALUMNI SURVEY EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES – A TRANSNATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EDITORIAL FOCUS ON ImmigratiON Towards a confident approach to migration P. 4 As one of the most dynamic This issue contains coverage of the ASA 2013, policy fields, immigration is This is the sixth edition of the ASA alumni magazine. which was held in July in Kempfenhausen and We wish you a lot of fun reading all the news about our Migrant Visions – a photography exhibition P. 4 at the center of the current included a non-European university (Princ- political debate also in Eu- network, the interviews with renowned persons and the eton) for the first time, and was a resounding rope – and thus constitutes insights into European topics. The editorial team pre- success once again. Included within is also an Allow migrants in, boost growth and innovation P. 6 the focus of this issue. Read pared this issue during a wonderful and productive interview with Prof. Pythagoras Petratos, on to learn more about con- weekend in Budapest. Are you interested to join the team from the Saïd Business School at Oxford, who Immigration perspectives from the United States P. 7 temporary issues in migra- and experience such productive weekends as well? You was also the coordinator of the Oxford team tion, the benefits of high- are more than welcome. Just send us a note. at the ASA 2013. Future challenges of immigration to the European Union P. 8 skilled immigrants, how immigration is viewed in the ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ US and future challenges of The focus of the magazine immigration. also provides you with in- High PrOfile “My languages carry me off into another world” – Interview with Ilma Rakusa P. 10 sights and thoughts about the --- EU´s current positions and Diversity is an asset of the INterNal Affairs ASA goes transatlantic P. 12 next steps to create a vibrant, ASA alumni network. The multicultural and even more result of the survey of the “Be creative and innovative” – Interview with Prof. Pythagoras Petratos P. 14 talented society in the com- Alumni Council show, that petitive world economy. there is high interest in Alumni in action P. 15 activities such as Jackpot Projects and the Alumni Professionals on the move P. 16 Academy. In this magazine --- you can read about the three ReflectiONS Democracy, equality and culture beyond the nation state P. 18 projects which were selected --- for a Jackpot funding. FORUM Tax and the city P. 20 Global affairs and work in a think-tank P. 21 --- POrtrait OF AN ALUMNA Turning international experiences into worthy causes P. 22 A stencil graffiti on a backstreet wall in Glastonbury. Banksy or not? Please find the digital version for Browser, Android and iPhone at kulturstiftung.allianz.de/en/alumni Your editorial team: Nad’a, Andreas, Stephanie, Arunabh and Anna EVENTS OF THE ALLIANZ CULTURAL FOUNDATION NOTE OF THE ALLIANZ CULTURAL FOUNDATION Rich through Immigration Das Weiße Meer / The White Sea “Europe – Dream and Reality” Dear Alumni, Discussion at the Foundations Week Literature around the Mediterranean European Writers´ Conference Berlin/Germany I April 8, 2014 Alexandria/Egypt I April 26–27, 2014 Berlin/Germany I May 7–9, 2014 Prior to this in many respects crucial European Parliament elections, the Allianz Germany’s cities are unthinkable without mi- Following events in Trieste and Tirana, this On initiative of the current Federal Foreign Cultural Foundation is involved in several political conferences and writer’s con- gration. Current debates about poverty immi- mobile literary festival will be visiting the Bib- Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier together gresses. To these, we would like to invite you today. Furthermore, we support Ulrich gration and protests against refugee shelters liotheca Alexandrina. Under the heading with the authors Antje Strubel, Nicol Ljubi Beck’s and Jürgen Habermas’ call VOTE4EUROPE, which turns against the possible challenge the cities. Representatives of unions, “Identities in Motion”, the workshops and and Tilman Spengler writers from over 20 undermining of the European Parliament by populist and anti-European politicians. local governments, science and politics discuss panel discussions will analyze concepts of iden- countries will discuss with politicians, scien- Therefore, we have collected the opinions of more than 50 European artists, authors after short impulse speeches about concepts for tity. Multiple cultural identities have developed tists, philosophers and economists the idea and and elder statesmen. After VOTE4EUROPE appeared in DIE ZEIT and Frankfurter an open and inclusive society in times when around the Mediterranean and, to this day, in- reality of the European project in times of cri- Allgemeine Zeitung, la Repubblica and Politiken, Gazeta Wyborcza and racisms seems more present. What can founda- fluence the way in which Arabic and European ses. Regarding the European elections two Nepszabadsag , we now want to publish it in other countries. Maybe you can help us tions contribute for the success of an open so- people perceive one other. The workshops and weeks later the participants will exchange views to find the way into a media of your home or your host country: ciety under conditions of free movement in panel discussions will be accompanied by the at the conference and listen to a diversity of www.vote4europe.eu Europe? This is the question the panelists will online communities in Egypt and Europe via European voices during a Long Night of Euro- try to answer. Further information at: Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. Follow on- pean Literature. For more details see by Michael M. Thoss www.berlinerstiftungswoche.eu/node/1221 line at www.dasweissemeer.eu. www.europatraumundwirklichkeit.eu 4 Focus on Immigration Focus on Immigration 5 The graphic below provides a country-based overview outlining the most popular destinations of migrants in search of better living conditions: TOWARDS A while also enhancing the integration of spous- es and children. The underestimation of the family factor and the feeling of not being wel- comed in the host country often discourage CONFIDENT APPROACH H-S from coming and staying. EU member states are on a good but slow track to attract additional highly skilled migrants. TO MIGRATION They have been endorsing a common approach that would increase Europe´s role with regards to economic migration while also maintaining a certain degree of jurisdiction. The EU is capable of attracting H-S labor and is proceed- ing step by step. Blue Card initiatives and point-based systems facilitate and accelerate the admission procedures and thus demand for the EU H-S increases. However, if EU countries are gradually focusing more on highly skilled talents, merely collecting “brains”, and turn their heads away from the low-skilled, asylum EU approach to migration seekers and other less favored immigrants, Since the Schengen rules of open borders with- there are questions to ask: Will the vision of in the EU have been implemented, it is par- concerning gross domestic product (GDP) potential economic profit and the filling of ticularly interesting to observe that the migra- values, the EU only spends half as much on stated quotas result in increased social dispar- tion flows within Europe´s richest countries higher education as the USA. Quality higher ities and feelings of antipathy? How will the EU largely outnumber those recorded from other education is a key to create and attract highly overcome differences in order to build a stron- parts of the world. As it is stated in the OECD qualified individuals who are a crucial element ger and more unified society? International Migration Outlook 2013, “free for sustainable economic growth. The EU can Globalization is not a new phenomenon but it is increasingly important to understand and circulation within European OECD coun- As our Focus on Immigration provides an reflect on, especially in the context of migration. Globalization has not been a conscious aim. It is tries rose in 2011 and is now four times The continuous search for overview of globalization and its impact on the neither completely “good” nor “bad” but it has become a reality that we all have to deal with. more common in relative terms in the re- better living conditions migration flows, you will further discover also gion than migration from elsewhere. Out- other perspectives on immigration. First, you flows from countries most affected by the enhances the migration flows can shape your opinion about the need to low- Although, it is difficult to define, David Held according to OECD data. Net migration is crisis, particularly southern European ones, be inspired by the US advanced research pro- er visa restrictions and enable highly skilled in his book Globalisation Theory – Approaches difference between immigration and emi- have also accelerated, by 45 % from 2009 to grams, but it is hardly affordable and applicable immigrants to use their talent within the EU. and Controversies (2007) formulates it as “the economy is still recovering from the 2008 gration within a defined