Multicultural Challenges and Social Integration Policy in Germany

Abstract

Confrontation between Muslim migrants and mainstream culture recently seen in the United Kingdom and France has not yet directly been expressed in Germany. However, as many other countries in Europe, Germany also declares the failure of multiculturalism and witnesses the spread of perception that the discourse and practice of multiculturalism are at a crisis. What has become clear in the process of cultural clash is that German society must eliminate differences between mainstream and immigrant society and create common perception of belongingness in the process of forming a community called German for a sustainable democracy. Focusing on those problems, this paper will suggest a framework for analysis of the German multiculturalism which is used jointly with social integration policy bearing social assimilation into mind, and look into the current conditions of social integration policy in order to understand the development process of the German multiculturalism and the discourse structure of social integration policy for migrants. Also, this paper will examine limitations and problems of social integration policy with a focus on citizenship, political participation by foreigners,cultural identity, and cultural clash and seek action plans for a sustainable democracy.