Analysis of Integration Policies and Public State-Endorsed ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

$(Medieunders\370gelse: Muslimer omtales negativt og ensidigt ...$

Working paper produced within the TOLERACE project Active participation in society, including political process, is a central theme in the Danish integration policies. Since 1981 immigrants and refugees have had the right to vote and run for election on municipal and regional level after three years of legal residence (four years since August 2010 due to changes in the Integration Act and other related laws). In 1983 the government established the Council for Ethnic Minorities (Rådet for etniske minoriteter) which has representatives from diverse associations for immigrants. The primary task of the council is to advise the Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs on issues of importance to refugees and immigrants (Integration Act § 43). Furthermore, local councils in the municipalities may set up Integration Councils, which may give advisory opinions on the general effort of integration in the municipality (Integration Act § 42). The Integration Councils have no legal competence. 2.1. Key discourses within Danish integration policy The stated objective of the Integration Act (§ 1) is to ensure that newly arrived foreigners are given the possibility of using their abilities and resources to become involved as contributing citizens on equal footing with other citizens of Danish society. This must be done via an effort of integration which: a) is based on the responsibility of each individual foreigner to integrate into Danish society (amendment to the Act as of August 2010) b) assists to ensure that newly arrived foreigners can participate in the life of society in terms of politics, economy, employment and social, religious and cultural activities on an equal footing with other citizens c) assists in making newly arrived foreigners self-supporting as quickly as possible through employment d) imparts to the individual foreigners an understanding of the fundamental values and norms of Danish society The law and the integration policy as such have been criticised from various sides for being imprecise concerning the definition of integration and the longer-term goals of the integration process (Hamburger, 1990, Ejrnæs, 2001). Furthermore, it is noted that the policy points in apparently divergent or even self-contradictory directions; while on the one hand emphasizing cultural sameness, on the other hand it emphasizes equal rights, equal opportunities and self-reliance (Ejrnæs, 2001 & 2002; Hedetoft, 2006a). In the objects clause alone three different understandings of integration or three different 56
Working paper produced within the TOLERACE project benchmarks can be identified: participation in society, self-reliance and understanding of basic norms and values (Ejrnæs, 2002). The notion of equality is central to the Integration Act and in the integration policy as such. However, the concept of equality is closely related to a perception that equality requires a certain degree of sameness. The more alike we are, the easier it is to sustain the idea of equality. To be equal in Danish society, thus tend to imply to be similar (Jöhncke, 2007, Hervik, 1999). This notion of equality is closely related to the perception of Denmark as a cultural homogeneous country, and to the conceptions of social egalitarianism and universalism as constitutive elements of Danish society (Hedetoft, 2006a). The intimate connection between equality and sameness is reflected in the approach to multiculturalism in Denmark and in the Danish integration policies. Thus, the concept of integration is generally used in the sense of assimilation, and the benchmark of successful integration tend to be individual inclusion and ‗cultural transformation‘ (Hedetoft, 2006a, 2003, Hamburger, 1990). Furthermore ―the Danish political system – unlike the systems of other Nordic countries – does not base itself on the recognition of minorities and only in exceptional cases makes juridical or political allowance for minority rights and cultural claims based on minority status‖ (Hedetoft, 2006a:403). Thus, integration becomes a question of immigrants‘ cultural capacity to harmonize their values with Danish values, and focus is on ‗cultural sameness‘ (Hamburger, 1990; Jensen, forthcoming). If the minority groups are not willing or able to adapt to the customs and attitudes of the Danish culture they are not considered fully integrated into Danish society. These assimilationist tendencies are reflected in the Integration Act, e.g. in the emphasis on the need for foreigners to understand and adopt the fundamental Danish values. As of August 2010, two further objectives were added to the Integration Act. One stating as a purpose that newly arrived foreigners are conscious of the fact that successful integration is a condition to obtain permanent residence permit, and the other emphasizing the responsibility of each individual foreigner to integrate into Danish society. With these amendments, further emphasis is placed on the individual foreigner‘s own responsibility in the integration process. What is meant by ‗successful integration‘ is not explicitly defined in the Integration Act, but some indications hereof are given in the wording of the Act and in the newly introduced system of points 35 , 35 The system of point was introduced as an amendment to the Aliens Act in August 2010. With the new system the foreigner can apply for permanent residence after four years legal stay in Denmark whereas 57
Page 1 and 2: Working paper produced within the T
Page 3: Working paper produced within the T
Page 23 and 24: REFERENCES Working paper produced w

Analysis of Integration Policies and Public State-Endorsed ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?