Mark hails from the Emerald Isle but has been living in the land of cheese and deep-fried-indiscrimi...
Integration stagnating in the Netherlands
20 February 2013, by Mark McDaidThere has been no increase in contact between Dutch natives and non-Western immigrants over the past 15 years, with casual contacts remaining stagnant and inter-ethnic visits becoming less frequent.
Almost half of the Turkish-Dutch population will never visit an indigenous citizen, whereas at the beginning of the century this figure was one in three. There has been no trend towards increased inter-ethnic contact in terms of friendships, home visits or relationships, with one in ten Moroccan and Dutch natives marrying a native Dutchman or woman - a similar figure to ten years previously.
This research, published in Trouw by two researchers from the Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, comes as a surprise given the assumption that migrant communities should become further integrated as more generations of migrant families benefit from exposure to the Dutch education system and language. However, the paper posts four reasons for the stagnation in integration: increased segregation of migrant communities, the economic climate, cultural differences and the social climate of the host country.
The tendency of immigrants to settle within cities and in particular neighborhoods has caused an increase in so-called "black neighborhoods" and "black schools" - thus segregating communities and diminishing the potential for inter-ethnic contact.
The current economic crisis is also used to explain the lack of progress, with the weak economy affecting migrant groups disproportionately and therefore giving them less chance of a solid, full-time paid job - a great advantage for anyone seeking to make more leisure contacts.
Cultural distance on specific issues, such as medical roles, homosexuality and gender roles, are also seen as key in relations between the groups.
Photo by Flickr user FaceMePLS
Highly educated Turks or Moroccans have, on average, more traditional views on these matters than the less-educated Dutch native.
The article does qualify these first three issues with it's final reasoning, pointing the finger at Dutch natives too by stating that it "takes two to tango". Views on migration and integration are usually negative, and a significant portion of the indigenous Dutch population opposes contact with migrants, whether it be as a friend, partner or with their children.
There is an element of patience required in this situation following the argument that it takes two or three generations before the fruit of integration can be harvested. Yet, in the short term at least, it seems that little progress is being made in the integration of non-Western immigrants into Dutch society.
Source: Trouw
Thumb photo by Flickr user FaceMePLS
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It does indeed 'take two to tango'. Integration is as much the responsibility of the host community as the immigrant. Saying simply that 'black neighborhoods' are 'caused' by 'the tendency' of immigrants to settle in particular neighborhoods ignores the very real social and structural factors that exclude and segregate immigrants. The discourse about the 'failure of multiculturalism' in Europe seems to have a distinct 'blame the immigrant' tone, when in fact Dutch cultural and legal claims of autochthony (being 'born of the soil') are also deeply conservative and only reinforce social exclusion of immigrants, whatever their efforts to integrate.
A small observation. I come from Bombay, India and have been living in the Netherlands for almost 4 years now. I recently moved into a new aparment which I share with a Greek roommate. We decided to throw a small house warming party for our friends and invited our neighbors as well - with individual invitations to each of them. We thought it was the perfect opportunity to get to know the people who live around us. We also went to the extent of planning it a month in advance, on a weekend so that they had enough time to plan it into their schedules. We also insisted that they bring nothing with them and that we would provide drinks and some Indian-Greek snacks. SURPRISE!! not a single neighbor from the 10 that we invited showed up - not even for a drink to get to know us.
I don't know what scares locals to mingle with immigrants/foreigners. But it is a serious problem which can only be tackled with dispelling ignorance about cultures.
Sahal, An immigrant friend married to a Dutch man lived next to a Dutch couple for 15 YEARS before they were invited to their neighbor's house. Ironic, with the Dutch being so frank and all, that this type of behavior is rarely mentioned in discussions of integration!
We often here that integration rates among non-Westerners or even fellow Europeans are low. However, we never questions why don't our Dutch hosts try a little bit more if not at all!
I noticed that despite the fact that one is born in the country and with parents who are also born here you will still be called English, Italian or Moroccan just simply bcause your grand-parents were born abroad or your family name does not sound Dutch! We talk about enforcing intergration but we cut off the free programme that used to encourage newcomers to do so.
People are often asked to embrace the local values of freedom of speech,thought, sexuality, faith etc. yet we keep hearing and reading about individuals, parties, media establishments insinuating hatred and discrimination againt a group or another just because they look different or believe in something different...!!!
About the Author
Mark McDaid