Immigration Issues in Western Europe
Sophia Haddadin
Professor Adolino
POSC 345 Western European Politics
12/9/2013
Introduction
A leading issue in today’s world politics that has and still is affecting several countries is the topic of immigration. Immigration defined simply is when a person comes to a foreign country and takes up permanent residence. This act may result due to unstable economic conditions in ones homeland, war, poor working as well as living conditions, or even just a lack of national pride and identity. Some situate themselves legally in a country, attend school or work as a legal immigrant or potential citizen and pay taxes. Then, there those who enter a country illegally, work “under the counter” and choose to not pay any state taxes. Both legal and illegal immigrants are issues that many countries have to face and deal with. Further, immigrant integration can be a touchy subject for some. There remains to be a wide variation of views as well as potential solutions for this specific problem. The final sub-area concerning immigration issues deals with discrimination or racism towards a particular immigration population within a country.
I will be discussing immigration-related challenges particularly in the country of Germany. Germany has a population size of roughly 80 million citizens of which 15 million of those are people who have migrated to Germany or have at least one immigrant parent. Concern about immigration in the country has been an ongoing issue for years now. Some background information on the topic as well as current data will be introduced in the paper. Further, I will discuss the government’s response to the problem and touch on any current or past policies or regulations that have been set. I will conclude with any implications that Germany has had and/or is facing as a result of immigration. Moreover, I will compare Germany to the United States in this topic and will deliberate on any lessons to be learned after having
Professor Adolino
POSC 345 Western European Politics
12/9/2013
Introduction
A leading issue in today’s world politics that has and still is affecting several countries is the topic of immigration. Immigration defined simply is when a person comes to a foreign country and takes up permanent residence. This act may result due to unstable economic conditions in ones homeland, war, poor working as well as living conditions, or even just a lack of national pride and identity. Some situate themselves legally in a country, attend school or work as a legal immigrant or potential citizen and pay taxes. Then, there those who enter a country illegally, work “under the counter” and choose to not pay any state taxes. Both legal and illegal immigrants are issues that many countries have to face and deal with. Further, immigrant integration can be a touchy subject for some. There remains to be a wide variation of views as well as potential solutions for this specific problem. The final sub-area concerning immigration issues deals with discrimination or racism towards a particular immigration population within a country.
I will be discussing immigration-related challenges particularly in the country of Germany. Germany has a population size of roughly 80 million citizens of which 15 million of those are people who have migrated to Germany or have at least one immigrant parent. Concern about immigration in the country has been an ongoing issue for years now. Some background information on the topic as well as current data will be introduced in the paper. Further, I will discuss the government’s response to the problem and touch on any current or past policies or regulations that have been set. I will conclude with any implications that Germany has had and/or is facing as a result of immigration. Moreover, I will compare Germany to the United States in this topic and will deliberate on any lessons to be learned after having
Bibliography: Broeders, Dennis. 2009. Breaking Down Anonymity: Digital Surveillance of Irregular Migrants in Germany and the Netherlands. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. Constant, Amelie and Bienvenue Tien. 2011. Germany’s Immigration Policy and Labor Shortages. IZA Research Report. No. 41 (October): 1-38. http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/publications/reports/report_pdfs/iza_report_41.pdf (accessed December 3, 2013). Jacoby, Tamar. 2011. Germany’s Immigration Dilemma. How Can Germany Attract the Worker’s It Needs? Foreign Affairs. 90, no. 2 (March/April): 8-14. http://immigrationworksusa.org/uploaded/03_01_11_Foreign_Affairs_Germanys_Immigration Dilemma.pdf (accessed December 2, 2013). Süssmuth, Rita. 2009. The Future of Migration and Integration Policy in Germany. Migration Policy Institute. (accessed December 2, 2013). 2006 Rubio-Marín, Ruth. 2000. Immigration as a Democratic Challenge. Citizenship and Inclusion in Germany and the United States. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.