ANALYSIS: A short introduction to "Integration-German"

By Jeff Black Oct 20, 2010, 11:39 GMT

Berlin - In recent weeks German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Christian Wulff and other leading figures have told immigrants to Germany that learning the language of Goethe and Schiller is an absolute must for successful integration.

To aid this process, here are a few of the highly politically loaded terms - and their approximate meanings - that have arisen in the so-called integration debate:

Leitkultur - Literally 'lead culture,' or the idea that there is a core, mainstream German culture with a distinct set of values to which immigrants should attempt to adapt.

The values enshrined in the German constitution have been mentioned in this respect, but it also has connotations of encompassing the Judeo-Christian religions, to the exclusion of Islam.

President Wulff caused controversy in October when he attempted to add the religion of Germany's 4 million Muslims to this category.

Integrationsverweigerer - An individual who refuses to adapt and adopt the Leitkultur, i.e. to 'integrate.' Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) are believed to be preparing new policies that will slap sanctions on immigrants that don't try to fit in.

Immigrants are expected to adapt by learning the German language fluently, attending so-called integration courses, and, of course, abiding by German laws.

Multikulti - The German slang word for the theory of Multiculturalism, which suggests that a population of many different cultures, religions and ethnicities can live peacefully together side by side, without any side losing their own identity.

Merkel, and her conservative allies, have declared this policy 'dead' and have described those who believe in it - primarily political opponents in the Social Democrat (SPD) and Green parties - as naive.

Fremde Kulturkreise - Roughly, 'alien cultural group,' a term used explicitly in connection with Muslims from Turkey or the Arab Middle East by Bavarian conservative leader Horst Seehofer.

He said in an interview in October that immigrants from these areas were no longer welcome in Germany. He later partially retracted the comments.

Sarrazin-Effekt - A rise in the occurrence of Islamophobia, according to surveys, after the publication of a book by former central banker Thilo Sarrazin - a politician from an old Huguenot immigrant family.

Sarrazin's book, which met with some considerable public approval, said that Islamic culture was to blame for Muslims' poor integration. It also said that Germany's generous welfare state and immigration policies were bringing the country down.

Migrationshintergrund - A word that describes anyone from a 'migration background,' i.e. not of 'German' ethnicity, whatever that may mean.

The Federal Statistics Office says that the term encompasses about 16 million people living in the country, or just under 20 per cent of the population.

Fachkraeftemangel - The acknowledgement that Germany is actually a net emigration country, and in fact is facing acute shortages of qualified workers in certain sectors, for example IT.

While one side says that qualified foreigners should be invited to come regardless of where from, the other says that the labour shortage should be dealt with at home.

Read more about Germany Politics

Read more about Migration