Integration of People with a Turkish Migration Background in Germany

Introduction

"Turks strongly resist Integration" (Solms-Laubach, 2009) wrote the "WELT" in January 2009, "Merkel calls Turks to integrate"(sts, 2010) stated the "Mitteldeutsche Zeitung" in March 2010 and "Bad Integration of Turks" could be read in the "Die Tageszeitung" (Akyol, 2009) in February 2009. Reading German newspapers often gives the impression of the existence of an isolated Turkish community. Almost every week one can read news that explain to some degree how Turks fail to be part of the community. The media often creates anxiety by delivering a picture of a Turkish community living in a "parallel" society. Moreover it is often claimed that especially people with a Turkish migration background are not capable of integrating into the German society.

However what is done to integrate them? What does Germany do to improve integration? This text will tackle the question "What is done in Germany to integrate people with a Turkish migration background?" After defining what is meant by "Turkish migration background" and "integration" the current status of integration of people with a Turkish migration background will be explained. Furthermore there will be an introduction of the most important participants in the Integration process of people with a Turkish migration background in Germany as well as an overview of the current integration projects to reveal what is being done to integrate the biggest group of people with a migration background. (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010a)

People with a Turkish migration background in Germany

In 2009 15.4 million people with a migration background were living in Germany (Statistisches Bundesamt 2010a), the majority of these people - with every 6th person - has Turkish roots to some degree. (Woellert, Kröhnert, Sippel, Klingholz, 2009) The history of Turks coming to Germany goes back to 1961 when Germany established an agreement with Turkey to receive temporary guest workers. (Bundesministerium des Innern Referat MI1, 2008)

About 50 years later 1.7 million Turks live in Germany, which is 26.1 % of all foreigners. However people with a Turkish migration background are more than these 1.7 million. (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010b) This background can mean that one migrated from Turkey to Germany or that ones (grand)parents migrated to Germany. It does not mean that one must have a Turkish passport. Since the introduction of the birthright (ius soli) in 2000 kids that are born in Germany directly receive the German citizenship. (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, 2008a) Interestingly in 2009 half of all persons with a Turkish background were already born in Germany. (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010a)

Integration

Integration can be defined as the "societal and political incorporation of persons or groups of people that differ to the majority because of their ethnicity, religion, language, etc."(Schubert, Klein 2006, p.178) or as the "reciprocal process of adoption between people with a migration background and inhabitants". (Woellert, Kröhnert, Sippel, Klingholz, 2009, p. 9)

The German government defines integration from their point of view a bit more precisely. The government states that everybody who legally lives here should be part of society, enjoying equal opportunities and equal rights. On the other hand one is obliged to learn German and approve the constitution and the law. (Woellert, Kröhnert, Sippel, Klingholz, 2009)

Current integration status of people with a Turkish migration background in Germany

Although most people with a Turkish background have been living for a long time in Germany the IMI (index to measure integration) reveals that they are the least integrated group. (Woellert, Kröhnert, Sippel, Klingholz, 2009). Only half of Turkish people claim that they have contact with German friends several times per week. (Von Gostomski, 2010) Moreover the portion of people without any degree of education (30 %) as well as the number of unemployed young people (28 %) are extraordinarily high. Interestingly more men than women get a degree, which is in complete contrast to the German population. (Woellert, Kröhnert, Sippel, Klingholz, 2009). About 17% under the age of 30 dispose of an A-level graduation. (Sauer, 2009) Furthermore 32 % accepted the German citizenship and it must be said that those are the best integrated. Only 5 % enter a bicultural marriage, which might also be an indicator of integration. (Woellert, Kröhnert, Sippel, Klingholz, 2009). According to the Turkish scholars Kaya and Kentel, people with a Turkish background living in Germany can be divided into three groups. The "bridging group" which is in between the two cultures of Germany and Turkey, the "breaching group" which is religious and turkey-orientated and the "assimilated". (Ross, 2009) However 58 % claim that they feel that Germany is rather their home than Turkey; among young people these figure even increases to two thirds. (Sauer, 2009)

All these figures show an alarming situation of a huge community that generally speaking does not really take part in society and disposes only of low levels of education. However it must clearly be said that the reason for this problem is not the people itself it is rather an integration policy by Germany that was missing for decades.

Most important participants in the integration process of persons with a Turkish migration background in Germany

Until the 1980's the German government hardly undertook any efforts to integrate Turkish workers into the German society. As Turks were supposed to return to their home country, the government even invested in programmes providing an incentive for them to return to Turkey. (Bundesministerium des Innern Referat MI1, 2008) Approximately 30 years after the first guest workers from Turkey came to Germany the government realized that programmes of integration are very urgent. As a result of violent attacks on immigrants in the early 1990's, politicians started to discuss about an integration process of people from Turkey, instead of discussing about returning incentives. (Faruk Sen, 2002)

For the 2.5 million people with a Turkish migration background (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010a) that are living in Germany at the moment there are finally plenty programmes - governmental and non-governmental - that were founded to improve the integration process in Germany (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge 2008b). The following