Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
I'm getting e-mail after e-mail about German Chancellor Angela Merkel's announcement that multiculturalism has failed.
POTSDAM, Germany (Reuters) – Germany's attempt to create a multicultural society has "utterly failed," Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, adding fuel to a debate over immigration and Islam polarizing her conservative camp.
Speaking to a meeting of young members of her Christian Democrats (CDU), Merkel said allowing people of different cultural backgrounds to live side by side without integrating had not worked in a country that is home to some four million Muslims.
"This (multicultural) approach has failed, utterly failed," Merkel told the meeting in Potsdam, south of Berlin.
A few thoughts about this.
First, this isn't quite the breaking news it's being represented to be. She said exactly the same thing six years ago in the wake of Theo van Gogh's murder:
"The notion of multiculturalism has fallen apart," said opposition conservative leader Angela Merkel in a recent interview.
"Anyone coming here must respect our constitution and tolerate our Western and Christian roots."
So did Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who was in office at the time: "A democracy cannot tolerate lawless zones or parallel societies ... Immigrants must respect our laws and acknowledge our democratic ways of doing things."
The government promptly passed a law requiring new immigrants to take German language and civics lessons. There's been a fairly consistent official recognition since then that multiculturalism hasn't worked. But simply declaring this doesn't change much.
What's perhaps being less widely reported is that a few days ago, Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış called upon Turks in Germany to learn German and be lawful:
I call to my Turkish originated German citizens and to my Turkish citizens to learn German and adapt to the country. Abide to customs and traditions of the home member state. Send your children to the good schools for a better future. Obey the laws. If Ali or Ahmet commit a crime, other people, without looking the names, will say "A Turk did it."
Good, good, everyone's on the same page, right? But what is also being less widely reported is that on October 9, just slightly more than a week ago, Erdoğan--in Berlin, with Merkel right by his side--reiterated what he said rather controversially two years ago, before cheering crowds of ethnic Turks in Cologne, to wit, that assimilation is a crime against humanity:
Speaking at a joint press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Erdogan said that "assimilation was the permutation of the values of humans. At times, this is permutation of religion and culture. At times, assimilation is putting pressure on individuals to leave aside their customs and traditions and such a behaviour happens to be a crime against humanity. It is impossible for me to change my thoughts on what assimilation is."
He meant forced assimilation, he stressed--leaving a bit of wriggle room--and I won't even comment on the irony of a Turkish prime minister making this point beyond noting that the letter x is illegal in Turkey.
Merkel at the same press conference reassured the world that assimilation was being asked of no one, just integration:
Assimilation is not an issue,' Merkel added. 'This is about integration, the acceptance of our laws and constitution, learning the German language and, in particular creating equal chances for people of Turkish origin.
'The key is language, upbringing and participation in society,' the German chancellor said, adding that there was room for improvement.
No one concerned has made it entirely clear what is meant by "assimilation" or "integration"--or how either relate, precisely, to multiculturalism--but obviously no one is staying on message, whatever the message is, and no one has a concrete policy prescription beyond telling immigrants they should obey the law and learn German.
As for the latter suggestion, it's a very fine thing to advise, and I'm all for it. But I've had a lot of personal experience of trying to bridge the gap between an Indo-European and a Ural-Altaic language when you're past the age of easy natural language acquisition. I can say with some conviction that if adult immigrants aren't getting the hang of German, there are reasons for this beyond the failure of politicians to encourage them.
So I have no idea what Merkel is actually suggesting--there seems to be no intelligible policy prescription beyond the words--and I doubt she does, either. Given that Berlin is the second-largest Turkish city in the world (yes, really), and this is quite an important discussion, a bit more clarity wouldn't hurt.
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Jul '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Claire, as one of those who sent you an email, let me say that I think Merkel's statement goes far, far beyond the question of Turks in Germany.
I'm hoping her apostasy is the seminal event in the destruction of the secular religion of multiculturalism.
To have Geert Wilders tell the truth about multiculturalism is one thing. To have the sitting leader of Europe's leading democracy weigh in is a quantum leap.
Multiculturalism has sapped the moral and political strength of every Western democracy. One can only hope that Merkel's acknowledgement of that fact represents a turning point.
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 4:08amRe: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
France has had difficulties just as great with assimilating (or integrating) immigrants, despite having always, vigorously, officially rejected multiculturalism as a doctrine. The French position is (and has always been), everyone becomes French. Merkel's hardly the first major European leader to say it. Berlusconi, 2006: "We don't want Italy to become a multiethnic, multicultural country." Blair, 2006: "Conform or don't come here." Aznar, 2006: Multiculturalism "a big failure." (He was out of office by then.) Cameron, 2008: "State multiculturalism is a wrong-headed doctrine that has had disastrous results." There hasn't been much official enthusiasm for this doctrine, really, since 2006. The problem is that you can abandon the doctrine, but you're still left with a lot of unassimilated immigrants.
May '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
As a naturalized Citizen in the United States - I was born in Sweden - I think a big reason that European countries are doing a poor job with assimilation goes beyond leadership and politics. Here, I feel that it is welcome when I am behaving like an American (I was invited to Thanksgiving dinner the first year I was here and no one frowned upon my presence even though I did not know what to expect).
We were not that generous to newcomers in Sweden and the larger European countries are even more difficult.
It is certainly a responsibility for an immigrant to assimilate but the culture of the new country determines how large the challenge is. And as always - America is the paragon.
May '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Sounds hopeless, but at the very least wouldn't the first rule of holes apply? Stop accepting immigrants.
May '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
You'll always find a welcome at Thanksgiving, Skarv. But what about Malmo? I hear it's a dangerous place, especially for Jews.
And where is Andrea? She just came back from a trip to Sweden.
May '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Multiculturalism can never be anything more than a "notion" or a smug outlook. It is, as Steyn says, a license for ignorance. In practice it is a pageant put on by white liberals, with people of various hues in exotic dress aping the same platitudes. Its application in law and governance will always be illiberal and despotic. Skarv being (presumably) white would not feel it, but darker immigrants will be expected to display native characteristics, make discrete demands, and be rewarded for it.
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 6:29amAug '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Talking isn't action. European assimilation appears to be all the politicians run to whatever side of the boat has the best view. We are cheering about very incrementally small crumbs. What is the metric for success here ? When police can go everywhere to do their jobs , including chasing a thief into a mosque ? Or when a social worker can demand a client/immigrant come to their office with all his wives and daughters to submit to a physical investigation of FGM ?
Jul '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Multiculturalism is a symptom, not a disease. In the early 70's, to secure oil, counter-balance America, and regain influence in its former colonies, EU entered into a series of Euro-Arab dialogues, agreeing to accept mass Muslim immigration and guaranteeing that these immigrants will not have to assimilate into European culture. Thus even France, which has never embraced multiculturalism, has Muslim enclaves with no right of entry to non-Muslims, including police. European elites have welcome Islamization because of their disdain of Christianity.
When European politicians start asking their Muslim citizens whether they still divide the world between the House-of-I-slam and House-of-War, open an honest debate about the nature of Islam, and what kind of societies Europeans want to live in, then Europe has a chance. Sorry, speeches about multiculturalism, straight or confusing, don't cut it.
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 8:26amMay '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
The unimprovable summation of James C. Bennett: "Democracy, immigration, multiculturalism. Pick any two." (h/t Steyn)
Aug '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Skarv:
We were not that generous to newcomers in Sweden and the larger European countries are even more difficult.
Dunno if this is related, but Americans are on average more charitable in general than Europeans, and red-staters than blue-staters. (The book "Who Really Cares" explores this, reviewed by Sowell here.)
It seems when the Welfare State looms large enough, the charitable impulse in the populace itself withers. When you think the State is or should be taking care of your neighbor, why should you feel as strongly the personal responsibility to do so yourself?
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 10:49amRe: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Re. some of the comments here, Skarv's particularly, I wrote about a lot of this in this book. I'd try to condense it to 200 words, but then you might not order it ...
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 9:44amJun '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Put some jam in their pockets, cuz Europe is toast.
Jun '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
I remember a Russian telling me of his friend who immigrated to the U.S. He asked him why he didn't just move to Europe since it's closer. They guy replied, "If I move to Europe, I'll always be an immigrant. If I move to the U.S., I'll be a citizen." Perhaps there is something to the argument that it is harder to assimilate into Europe. In defense of Europe, however, they are nations of the actual source of specific native groups, whereas the U.S. does not have a specific ethnicity, per se. We have a bit less to "defend" than a native French or German might. I can easily imagine a German saying "Hey, this is where Germans come from, if we don't have Germans here, then there's no other place to do it." I sympathize with that point of view.
As for language difficulties for older people, I sympathize with that, too. As an adult, I've just about burst my brain trying to learn Russian and have barely succeeded, and that's an Indo-European language. I can't imagine a larger leap from one language family to another.
Jun '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Multicultural societies can survive anything except a crisis. But, growth, prosperity, and peace are well tolerated.
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 10:11amJul '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Dave Molinari: I remember a Russian telling me... I can easily imagine a German saying..
Sorry, Dave, and I hope I am not being rude, but what's the deal with the picture of Stalin? Why chose this mass murderer over the German one or any other?
Oct '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
I can't speak for everyone, but I started picking up languages #5, 6, 7, and 8 after my mid-thirties. I know not everyone has that aptitude, but it is possible, since I know I'm not the sharpest quill on the porcupine.
I know this sounds obvious, but motivation is key. People who want to be part of the host culture will find ways.
Some parties are trying to do just that. In Denmark, particularly.
Oct '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
And, FWIW, Merkel's choice of words is interesting. Ausdienen doesn't mean "utterly fail" per se so much as "it has outlived its usefulness." Ultimately, the same thing, but she put a soft tone to it
http://www.rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/Multikulti-hat-ausgedient_aid_617341.html
BTW, what sort of format does this forum use to tag links, et al? It's obviously not HTML.
Edited on Oct 17, 2010 at 12:32pmOct '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Gah...Der Spiegel, for whatever reason, has taken upon itself to go through 4000 entries on an online forum in response to Merkel's remarks.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,723589,00.html
(Sorry, folks, it's in German--I'll try to find an English version if it's available).
The overall tone is in support of MultiKulti, highlighting criticisms of Merkel, along with a graphic about how extreme right Germans are. Geez.
Jun '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
My picture is supposed to be an attempt at irony. I chose Stalin since I lived in Russia and Ukraine for 6 years and saw the legacy of totalitarianism every day. I study the Soviet Union in the 20's and 30's extensively and it's startling how the mindset of Communism then correlates with the mindset we see today. I don't mean all the killings necessarily, but the idea of the state above all else. Stalin is the extreme embodiment of all this and is the antithesis of everything I believe in. If the irony is unappreciated, then tell me, but that's at least my explanation.
Ragnarok
Sorry, Dave, and I hope I am not being rude, but what's the deal with the picture of Stalin? Why chose this mass murderer over the German one or any other? · Oct 17 at 10:42am
Jul '10
Re: Merkel and Erdoğan Display Power of Babble
Dave Molinari: My picture is supposed to be an attempt at irony. .. the mindset of Communism then correlates with the mindset we see today.
You are right that the mindset of Russian Communists of the 20's and 30's corresponds to the mindset of too many people in the US today. As for the irony thing, I guess I'll have to look at all the T-shirts of Che in a new light. Anyway, thanks for your explanation and forgive me if the Stalin picture is way too subtle for me. I am a humour-deficient bore, sorry.