Integration or Assimilation of Immigrants: A Continuing Issue of the German Land

Integration can not be confused with adaptability. This is the mistake which the Germans have been making for quite sometime. Germans expect the immigrants to adapt themselves completely to the ways and likes of any other German resident. The scenario is quite different in other countries like USA and Canada where the immigration policies are quite alleged. However, these countries have a completely different approach towards admitting any immigrant into their country.

On one hand, Canada believes in following the principle of multiculturalism and encourages the immigrants to follow their own cultural beliefs and ideologies, while U.S. believes in making the immigrants adapt the lifestyle and values of the local majority population. Thus, U.S. asks the immigrants to give up their cultural heritage to adapt the American culture. Canada continues to prosper with other culture and beliefs and thus is always found in a state of growth and development.

Howsoever and whatsoever the scenario may be like, the immigrants in both the countries (U.S. & Canada) still carry on with their moves and get integrated in the society to assume any further roles including society formation. Adaptation is a part of this immigration process. Nevertheless, people in many countries fail to accept this fact. They believe that their country is not home to immigration.

Germany is one such country. The residents of the country believe that Germany is not a place for immigrants. But in their quest to prove their stand, they tend to forget that the base of their civilization rests on few immigrant workers who moved to work for their economy and thus formed the basis of recruitment.

German residents have never made any efforts to integrate the immigrants into their society, culture or heritage. They have not recognized the fact that immigrants have now been there in Germany for quite some time, they have their families and some or more have also acquired German citizenships. Apart from this, they also accuse these immigrants of creating a separate parallel world for themselves and not making any efforts to integrate into the German society.

Integration is a factor of an immigrant's willingness to move on with the society of immigrant nation. It is also a factor of whether the society there is willing to integrate the immigrant and allows him or her to accept a new role and contribute to the economic development.

Assimilation takes a different angle than integration. Without having one to integrate, it is difficult to have assimilation with any particular culture. Nobody can become exactly like the other person. If you want an immigrant to adapt your culture, follow your rituals, you need to treat them as a part of your society. Forcing an immigrant to assimilate or adapt your culture is simply out of question. Any such act only leads to problems and further issues on immigration. Only when an immigrant would have the same rights as any other national, only when they have a part in the country, they would think about assimilation. Again, assimilation is an individual choice. Assimilation can not guarantee protection for minorities.