After Ethnicity and 'Constitutional Patriotism': Searching for a Capacious German Membership in a Period of Neo-Liberalism and Europeanization
A BRIDGE TOO FAR? THE NEW EUROPEAN UNION ENLARGEMNT, Joaquin Roy and Roberto Dominguez, eds., European Union Center, Miami, 2006
16 Pages Posted: 2 Mar 2006
Abstract
This short essay addresses the ongoing struggle, now successfully concluded in a compromise form, over the contours of a Nationality/Citizenship law encompassing naturalization and the recognition of jus soli principles for Germany. With that new law has come the abandonment of the previous Aliens Law and perhaps a serious amelioration of the legal marginalization of German-born foreigners, especially, though not only, those of Turkish or former guestworker background. Alongside that ongoing legal struggle, there has been a protracted debate, mostly on the left and in liberal circles, between advocates of multiculturalism, supporters of group recognition and some group rights, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, integrationists, those persuaded that improved legal access to the German nation would lead to a greater voluntary integration of "foreigners" into an evolving German society. It seems that the integrationists have won, though there has been no parallel massive flow of adult former resident aliens into the ranks of naturalized Germans. The readiness to welcome aliens, especially Turkish-origin Muslims, into German society appears to be not in synchrony with developments in the Turkish sector itself. The situation and preferences of a more hybrid, Germany-born, Turkish-German younger generation is more difficult to ascertain and portray.
Keywords: Germany, integration, multiculturalism, jus soli, naturalization, citizenship, left
JEL Classification: K1, K10, K11, K3, K30, K31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation