Contemporary Integration Policies in Europe: Civic Integration Programmes and the Legal, Social and Cultural Position of Non-Citizens

Abstract

National governments in Europe are increasingly resorting to civic integration policies in the search for solutions to modern integration problems. These policies are intended to improve the knowledge of national language and society among the immigrant population. Increasingly, however, and due to their mandatory nature, these policies have a direct impact on the legal, social and cultural position of immigrants. Passing a language test appears to be an essential prerequisite in order to enter a country, acquire a more secure residence status, and become eligible for naturalisation. The social dimension of integration seems to be more carefully dealt with, since the civic integration measures generally aim at increasing participation in society. The results so far, however, do not suggest highly optimistic conclusions. The cultural dimension is not left untouched either, since integration courses increasingly insist on social and cultural incorporation. As will be discussed in more detail for the Netherlands, the establishment of civic integration policies has abruptly ended the period of multiculturalism, and has had serious consequences for the position of immigrants in Dutch society.