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INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS
JUNE 2011
VOL 3, NO 2
attitude towards integration. As Denmark constitutes the host in this case, its culture and attitude
towards integration will be discussed in the following10.
How Denmark defines integration
When looking at how expatriates who are currently living in Denmark define integration it seems
highly relevant to consider the Danish definition of the term as well. This will be done in the
following. The Danish definition of integration seems to have a focus on economic integration.
In short, this means that foreigners who have a job are integrated. Hence, expatriates are
basically excluded from the whole debate on integration as they, when they come to Denmark
already have a job or at least are highly educated. Thus, the definition of integration and the
discussion about it focuses on immigrants, non-Western in particular.
According to the Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs and the
integration law, integration consists of three general columns: job, education and becoming part
of society (Nygaard, personal conversation, 06 October 2009)11. In 2005, the Ministry
developed an integration plan which, again, shows a clear focus on economic integration. The
plan, however, seems to lack a clear statement towards multiculturalism and diversity in
Denmark. Social and cultural issues are hardly mentioned, except an aiming towards a general
recognition of basic “values of society such as democracy and equality between the sexes”
(Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs 2005:1).
On the other hand, there are institutions that include customs and culture in the discussion. In the
integration policy of the Municipality of Copenhagen (2006) integration is defined in terms of
adaptation and acceptation. According to them, foreigners should adapt through learning the
language, living according to national laws as well as respecting the customs and culture of the
dominant group. At the same time, the dominant group is requested to accept the minority’s
culture and customs as long as these do not contradict democracy and human rights. The
minority group should furthermore not be obliged to take over the dominant culture.
(Municipality of Copenhagen, 2006)
Another insight on how Denmark defines integration might be gained through a study conducted
by ‘Dansk Center for Integration og Analyse (DCIA)’12 to analyze what the Danes’ expectations
of integration are. Their idea was to make it easier for foreigners to “become Danish enough for
the Danes” (DCIA 2009c; own translation). In focus has been the discussion about the
differences and problems between Danish and Muslim culture. This, on the one hand, makes the
results of the study not fully valid for an expatriate study and one the other hand shows, again,
where the focus in Danish integration discussion lies: on immigrants, especially those with an
Islamic background. Nevertheless, the results of the study seem interesting for this paper as they
show the Danish attitude towards integration. The survey finds three main aspects of integration
(DCIA, 2009a): to speak Danish, tow work and to follow the law. Furthermore, the study points
out that, for the Danes, everyday life is where foreigners have to integrate. Danish culture on the
other hand does not seem to be in the focus in the respondents’ definition of integration as only
10% of the respondents see it as a prerequisite of integration (DCIA 2009a:11). The aim of the
study, to make foreigners ‘become Danish enough for the Danes’ seems questionable as it could
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