Cultural Diversity in Cultural Diversity in German Speaking German Speaking

CountriesCountries

Cultural Assimilation in German Cultural Assimilation in German Speaking CountriesSpeaking Countries

By: Brian BeckerBy: Brian Becker

HistoryHistory The majority of post-The majority of post-

WWII immigrants were WWII immigrants were Russian Jews.Russian Jews.

Germany’s original Germany’s original policy was to form a policy was to form a unified German people unified German people through a similar through a similar German culture.German culture.

Assimilation became Assimilation became difficult after the 20difficult after the 20thth century warfare, due century warfare, due to changes in to changes in territorial borders.territorial borders.

History (cont.)History (cont.)

The Federal Expellee and Refugee The Federal Expellee and Refugee Law of 1953 ensured only ethnic Law of 1953 ensured only ethnic Germans were allowed back in Germans were allowed back in Germany. Germany.

It is debated whether or not German It is debated whether or not German speaking countries should be unified, speaking countries should be unified, and has been since the Holy Roman and has been since the Holy Roman Empire’s creation.Empire’s creation.

CulturesCultures Currently, Turkish Muslims are the largest influx of people into Currently, Turkish Muslims are the largest influx of people into

Germany, due to their need for jobs.Germany, due to their need for jobs. They resent Germany’s immigration policy for it tries to force They resent Germany’s immigration policy for it tries to force

Muslim’s to adopt German culture, which they don’t want.Muslim’s to adopt German culture, which they don’t want. Many Turk’s forego the immigration process by participating as Many Turk’s forego the immigration process by participating as

“guest workers”, and after a certain amount of time gaining “guest workers”, and after a certain amount of time gaining citizenship for themselves and their families.citizenship for themselves and their families.

Cultures (cont.)Cultures (cont.)

After WWII, Russian Jews were the After WWII, Russian Jews were the major immigrants into Germany in an major immigrants into Germany in an attempt to escape communist attempt to escape communist discrimination.discrimination.

Today, Judaism is one of Germany’s Today, Judaism is one of Germany’s primary religions, and the Jewish primary religions, and the Jewish people have become a majority.people have become a majority.

Current German PoliciesCurrent German Policies

In January of 2001, In January of 2001, Germany created a Germany created a “birthright policy”, “birthright policy”, which gave citizenship which gave citizenship to those born in the to those born in the country.country.

July of that year, July of that year, Germany instituted a Germany instituted a green card policy green card policy which immediately which immediately brought about 9,000 IT brought about 9,000 IT specialists to Germany. specialists to Germany.

Current German Policies Current German Policies (cont.)(cont.)

German immigration policies revolve German immigration policies revolve around Labor Migrants, Asylum Seekers, around Labor Migrants, Asylum Seekers, Ethnic Germans, and Contingent Refugees.Ethnic Germans, and Contingent Refugees.

German law follows the original edict of German law follows the original edict of the Geneva Convention, which provides the Geneva Convention, which provides safety to foreign refugees.safety to foreign refugees.

In December of 2000, Germany created an In December of 2000, Germany created an employment ban on asylum seekers which employment ban on asylum seekers which limits their work to 12 months and that limits their work to 12 months and that only if no German citizen is available to only if no German citizen is available to take it.take it.

QuestionsQuestions

1)1) What religious people are currently What religious people are currently immigrating to Germany?immigrating to Germany?

2)2) How are Germans responding to the How are Germans responding to the increase in foreign citizens?increase in foreign citizens?

AnswersAnswers

The Islamic People or Turkish The Islamic People or Turkish Muslims.Muslims.

Germans are opposed to the number Germans are opposed to the number of foreigners in Germany.of foreigners in Germany.

ReferencesReferences

Text:Text: http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Immigration/http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Immigration/

ImmigrantPolicyProjectRecentImmigrationDevel/tabid/13140/ImmigrantPolicyProjectRecentImmigrationDevel/tabid/13140/Default.aspxDefault.aspx

http://www.jstor.org/pss/2172312http://www.jstor.org/pss/2172312 http://bss.sfsu.edu/polisci/documents/Impacts%20ofhttp://bss.sfsu.edu/polisci/documents/Impacts%20of

%20Assimulation%20Concepts%20of%20Citizenship%20in%20Assimulation%20Concepts%20of%20Citizenship%20in%20Germany.pdf%20Germany.pdf

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