National Integration Policies Research Articles

How Does Inequality of Opportunities Affect the Distribution of Economic Wellbeing in Cameroon?

The objective of this study is to measure the empirical effects of inequality of opportunities (IOP) on the distribution of economic wellbeing, which is captured by consumption per adult equivalent of households in Cameroon. To this effect, we apply both the parametric and non-parametric approaches to measure the magnitude of IOP, and Shapley’s method for its decomposition. The results show that IOP has an estimated effect of 25% in 2001 and 35% in 2007. Its main sources are the agro-ecological zone with a contribution of 45.59% in 2001 and 44% in 2007, the place of residence with a contribution of 31.22% in 2001 and 29.49% in 2007, and the distance relative to a good road with a contribution of 12.57% and 13.83%, respectively. We recommend that the government should reinforce national integration policies for local agricultural product markets. She should also extend in rural areas, vocational training that characterizes human capital in urban areas; and she should expand and improve road infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

Inclusive Normative Climates Strengthen the Relationship Between Identification With Europe and Tolerant Immigration Attitudes: Evidence From 22 Countries

Europe as a supranational entity is frequently associated to inclusive and cosmopolitan values, which explains why identification with Europe generally relates to tolerant attitudes toward immigrants. However, because of major immigration movements, Europe has recently gone through demographic and social changes that have challenged its values and identity. In this context, we argue that, because national immigrant integration policies convey social norms about how citizens should deal with issues related to immigration, policies should also shape the association between identification with Europe and attitudes toward immigrants. Indeed, tolerant, more so than intolerant, policies in a country lay the foundations for interpreting identification with Europe as an inclusive stance, and consequently should enhance the association between identification with Europe and reduced anti-immigrant attitudes. To investigate these associations, we conducted a cross-country multilevel analysis including 22 European countries from the 2013 International Social Survey Programme. As predicted, identification with Europe was associated to reduced anti-immigrant prejudice. Furthermore, this negative association was stronger in countries with more tolerant, inclusive policies (assessed by the Migrant Integration Policy Index [MIPEX]) compared with countries with more intolerant, exclusive policies. Results are discussed in light of the content of European identity and of different embodiments of social norms.

Comparing the Incomparable? Migrant Integration Policies and Perplexities of Comparison

AbstractThis article examines the level of development of integration policies in the European Economic Area and the attempts to compare and standardize them. We discuss national integration models and policies based on the results of the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) and OECD/EU indicators of integration. Indicating the possible pitfalls of measuring and comparing integration policies, the results of researches into labour mobility and access to citizenship are examined. This comparative study shows that the indicators of immigrant integration are often at odds with the development level of integration policies, which results in their inadequate implementation in practice. Furthermore, EU countries face different challenges in the enactment of integration policies which spring from diverse (im)migration experiences, the scope of past migrations, and recent migratory flows. This is why integration policies should be re‐indexed, taking into consideration the particularities of (im)migration flows, the size of the immigrant population and other relevant factors.

National Immigration Receiving Contexts

Abstract. Extraordinary increases in refugee and voluntary migration have recently been observed in many European and North American countries. At the same time, negative attitudes toward immigrants and unfavorable immigration-related policy changes are promoting national climates of increased discrimination, fear of deportation, and experiences of income and education inequality among many immigrant origin youth and families. This paper considers how national receiving contexts, in particular the efficacy of national immigration integration policies and markers of national attitudes toward immigrants, can shape both native-born youth and immigrant and refugee youth well-being. Using an ecological framework, we draw from the recent empirical literature and three sources of international policy and child well-being data, to assess how national receiving contexts matter for native-born children and immigrant youth adaptation. Results indicate strong linkages among the macro-level contexts of multicultural policies and positive integration approaches with overall child well-being. More favorable immigrant national attitudes, and the more micro-level perceptions of discrimination and xenophobia, also matter tremendously for immigrant and refugee youth adaptation and health outcomes.

Creating the conditions for integrated systems of care: Learning from two large-scale approaches to changing thinking, practice and behaviour in Scotland and North West England

Introduction: Scotland has an established history of collaborative working across health and social care, and introduced a landmark reform to integrate health and social care services in April 2016. Effectively integrating care in complex health and care environments exposes design, implementation and sustainability challenges.[i],[ii] The Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA) has extensive experience of implementing national integration policy[iii] at system, service and team level in North West England and elsewhere in UK. Our collective experience[iv],[v],vi indicates that energy is often directed to what is intended e.g. the new model of care, rather than how it can be implemented and sustained. Investment in creating the conditions to underpin an integrated system is crucial to success, yet this step is often omitted or addressed too late. Aim and theory of change: Our shared aim is to develop local capability to integrate care and improve population health outcomes. In order to create the receptive context for improvement work in the integrated environment, our theory is that we need to take a blended approach including complexity science; system leadership; improvement science; change management; organisational development and acquisition of technical skills including partnership working between professionals and patients. Practice change: Based on our practical experiences of working with a number of leadership groups, we suggest three components that build the change conditions for effective system integration and will illustrate each component with practical work undertaken by NHS Scotland and AQuA. i. Change thinking: this applies to new care models, the concept of place, who delivers care and for what purpose. ii. Change practice: this applies to how we work together at the top of our license, partnering with local people to enable self-management and wellbeing; recognising local assets and moving to a community rather than hospital based model of care. iii. Change behaviours: the relational aspects of change are consistently under-estimated and both NHS Scotland and AQuA have created opportunities for stakeholders to meet, share and learn. Individual and team coaching of the Board and top-team ‘sponsors’ has reinforced system leadership theory and role modelling of collaborative leadership behaviour. Timeline, targeted population and stakeholders: Over the last 5-10 years NHS Scotland and AQuA have worked with individuals, teams and multi-agency boards and leadership groups to integrate care for local people. Highlights and lessons learned: We will: i. share lessons learned about the content and form of our extensive range of leadership and change management support and ii. reflect upon and discuss the organisational and system responsibility for creating a receptive context and organising infrastructure through which to co-ordinate development and meet the needs of change leaders at different times. Sustainability, transferability and conclusions: Both NHS Scotland and AQuA have spread their work to new teams and locations and have found that paying attention to thinking, practice and behaviour is a useful framework on which to build the conditions for sustainable change. Transferability and sustainability are dependent upon local context and whatever the setting, an equal focus on the plan (what) and implementation (how) is crucial to successful adoption.

Who We Are Is What We Believe? Religion and Collective Identity in Austrian and German Immigrant Integration Policies

Immigrant integration is a contested policy field in which boundaries of membership are drawn and re-negotiated whereby groups of immigrants are partially included and excluded. Building on the concept of collective identity and theories of boundary making, this paper illustrates how religion functions as a category to mark and fill notions of self and otherness. As several studies have shown, immigrants in Europe are increasingly addressed as Muslims, a development that also serves the promotion of a Christian ‘us’. Focusing on Austria and Germany, two countries where this is especially observable, the paper outlines the functioning of religion as symbolic boundary. The empirical study on national integration policies demonstrates how—within the relational process of boundary drawing against Muslims—a Christian identity narrative is established, how it functions as a marker of unity and how it relates to liberal and secular notions. Results from the qualitative content analysis of governmental policy programs from 2005 onwards show different patterns of boundary drawing on religion and the way they shape and limit the possibilities of inclusion. To understand this development, we have to look at Christian-democratic policy-makers, who currently dominate the political struggle for the power to define features of collective identity in immigrant integration policies.

Working Together: Building Successful Policy and Program Partnerships for Immigrant Integration

Supporting and investing in the integration of immigrants and their children is critically important to US society. Successful integration contributes to the nation's economic vitality, its civic and political health, and its cultural diversity. But although the United States has a good track record on immigrant integration, outcomes could be better. A national, coherent immigrant integration policy infrastructure is needed. This infrastructure can build on long-standing partnerships between civil society and US public institutions. Such partnerships, advanced under Republican- and Democratic-led administrations, were initially established to facilitate European immigrants' integration in large American cities, and later extended to help refugees fleeing religious persecution and war. In the twenty-first century, we must expand this foundation by drawing on the growing activism by cities and states, new civil society initiatives, and public-private partnerships that span the country. A robust national integration policy infrastructure must be vertically integrated to include different levels of government and horizontally applied across public and private sector actors and different types of immigrant destinations. The resultant policy should leverage public-private partnerships, drawing on the energy, ideas, and work of community-based nonprofit organizations as well as the leadership and support of philanthropy, business, education, faith-based, and other institutions. A new coordinating office to facilitate interagency cooperation is needed in the executive branch; the mandate and programs of the Office of Refugee Resettlement need to be secured and where possible expanded; the outreach and coordinating role of the Office of Citizenship needs to be extended, including through a more robust grant program to community-based organizations; and Congress needs to develop legislation and appropriate funding for a comprehensive integration policy addressed to all, and not just humanitarian immigrants. The federal investments in immigrant and refugee integration we propose are a big ask for any administration; they seem especially unlikely under the Trump administration, whose efforts focus on enforcement and border control, targeting undocumented and legal immigrants alike. Yet immigrant integration is not and should not be a partisan issue. Federal politicians across the political spectrum need to realize, as many local officials and a large segment of the public already do, that successful immigrant integration is a win-win for everybody. When immigrants have more opportunities to learn English, to improve their schooling and professional training, to start businesses, and to access citizenship, we all benefit. A majority of the American public supports immigrant integration, from proposals for learning English to a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Local and state governments are setting up initiatives to promote integration. If the federal government will not act, cities, states, and civil society organizations must continue to work together to build an integration infrastructure from the bottom up.

The (im)plausibility of racism in Europe: policy frameworks on discrimination and integration

ABSTRACTRodríguez Maeso and Araújo analyse the reproduction of a dominant understanding of racism in policy discourses of integration and discrimination used by monitoring agencies in Portuguese and European Union (EU) institutional contexts. More specifically, they question the political concern over racism and discrimination vis-à-vis the idea of Europe ‘becoming increasingly diverse’ and the need to gather ‘evidence’ of discrimination. To that end, they examine periodic reports issued by EU monitoring agencies since the 1990s—paying specific attention to reporting on school segregation of Roma pupils in Portugal—and national integration policies and initiatives that, since the 2000s, have targeted mainly Roma and black families and youth. They argue that the dominant discourse of integration and cultural diversity conceives of racism as external to European political culture, and as a ‘factor’ of the ‘conflictive nature’ of social interactions in ethnoracially heterogeneous settings. This paves the way for calls for the ‘strengthening of social cohesion’—on the assumption that policy initiatives need to act on the ‘characteristics’ of so-called ‘vulnerable’ populations—whereas institutional arrangements and everyday practices remain unchallenged.

Visibilizar, medir y evaluar las políticas de integración de inmigrantes. El caso del MIPEX.

In this paper, I analyse the problematisations, rationales and logic behind the functioning of MIPEX, an index for the assessment of national immigrant integration policies elaborated in the context of EU “soft policies”. From a qualitative perspective and drawing on my doctoral research, I focus on the calculation practices and inscription technologies used by this tool. I argue that: 1) even though MIPEX presents itself as a rational, technical and scientific tool, its data-building procedures stem from a specific and political notion of integration; 2) its operating logic aims to produce governmental effects, attempting to align EU member states’ policies with EU objectives; and 3) in this process, certain actors and knowledge are legitimized–mostly quantitative, quasi-experimental and “neopositivistic” ones–while others are delegitimized. I conclude that MIPEX can be considered a paradigmatic example of current practices of “governing by numbers”.

Cameroon: The Continuous Search for National Integration

The federal constitution of 1961 stated that the Federal Republic of Cameroon shall be constituted from the territory of the Republic of Cameroon, hereafter to be styled East Cameroon, and the territory of the Southern Cameroons, formerly under British trusteeship, hereafter to be styled West Cameroon. Thus, the constitution established a federation that embraced two different political and cultural systems, English and French. Taking this view into consideration, it is not surprising that the operations of the federal systems in East and West Cameroon were different. The implementation of the federal constitution had far greater implications for the political process in West Cameroon than it did in East Cameroon. As an independent state, the Republic of Cameroon made only minor institutional adjustments to absorb West Cameroon, as the line between the institutions of the state of East Cameroon and those of the federation was quite blurred. In forging ahead with a new nation, the Republic of Cameroon is still struggling with the implementation of national integration policies that will cater to the diverse nature of the country. Today, Cameroonians of English extraction feel that the government’s position that Cameroon is one and indivisible is contrary to the federal constitution of 1961, which guaranteed the rights of the two Cameroons to coexist as separate entities. Through systematic state machinery, the government has tried to neutralize any attempts by Southern Cameroons to assert themselves as equal partners with East Cameroon in the new state.

Integrated health and Social Care Project – Mental Health

Project Title: Integrated Care Models in Mental Health Research Project: Self assessment of an Integrated NHS Trust; National Perspective Challenges and Opportunities survey; & Small Scale Front Line Practitioners' Research Projects.Mersey Care NHS Trust has been successful in becoming an NHS North West Education Integrated Care Demonstrator site. The project considered the effectiveness of social care values, principles, role, functions, and delivery within an integrated Mental Health setting by engaging the workforce, partners, commissioners and service user/carers. The aim of the project was to elicit a considered, informed and collective value judgement from participants (here service users, carers, social workers, other professionals and managers) on the effectiveness of mental health social work in an integrated setting.The project ran between April to November 2015 and aimed to capture confidence in the role of mental health social work interventions, thinking and approaches in integrated settings, including understanding and working with social networks and communities.The project objectives included strengthening the evaluation which has already been started in the Trust, from an objective viewpoint and to explore and build an evidence base for integrated working which is then to be disseminated across other integrated mental health services. Also considered was the effectiveness of social care values, principles and delivery within an integrated mental health setting by engaging the workforce, partners, third sector, commissioners and service users.The Project has three research project activities:Research Activity One: Evaluating Mersey Care NHS Trust’s Mental Health Social Work Integrated Support & Development programme1. To complete a review of the literature in relation to mental health social work in integrated settings in the context of development and training needs2. Review and compare local policies, standards and social work workforce developments with the current literature in relation to mental health social work in integrated settings3. Compare the views of practitioners and people who access services with what is found in the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of Mersey Care’s modelFive deliberative sessions were held; three with professionals and two service users and carers. Each group was provided with a summary of what had been found in the literature review about what constitutes ‘good’ mental health social work in integrated setting which was.Research Activity 2: Small Scale Frontline Research ProjectsIn additional to the main body of the learning, the project also supported a number of small scale practitioner research projects. Seven studies were undertaken to provide contemporary evidence based and practitioners led. Topics included: Parity between physical & mental health; safeguarding adults/children; multidisciplinary working with asylum seekers; and whole system approach to trauma informed care.Research Activity 3: National Survey What Makes Integration Sustainable In Mental HealthThe aim of this strand of the project was to explore why integration within mental health services between health and social care has been sustained in certain mental health trusts whilst in others integration has not.The learning from each of the three research activities formed the basis of a portfolio containing reports and recommendations that provided a detailed understanding of best practice in relation to integrated working in mental health. The process provided learning that was able to identify good practice in the existing models of integration in the context of current policies and identify gaps and develop strategies for strengthening the integration model in Mental Health.Community Care Magazine has already published an article about the project findings and their significant relevance to professional and organisational development and practice. Link below:http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2016/02/05/care-act-increasing-tensions-nhs-trusts-social-worker-integration/Mersey Care is now a pilot site to test out a number of products developed by the Department of Health and the College of Social Work. Details below:Three resources were released together in February 2016- ‘Social work for better mental health’ The Strategic Statement- ‘How are we doing?’ An organisational and workforce self-assessment resource for implementation of the College role categories- ‘Making the difference’: A framework for direct service user and carer feedback and collaboration to promote high quality social work in mental healthFinally the project findings will support the government national integration policy including the Healthy Liverpool Scheme which is an excellent programme bringing clinical commissioners, providers and the Local Authority to work hard together to rebalance the healthcare system in Liverpool with greater focus on prevention, proactive care in community settings and integrated delivery across providers, with patients actively involved in their care (Panorama documentary, NHS - The Perfect Storm, July 2015).

Integration Policies of European Cities in Comparative Perspective: Structural Convergence and Substantial Differentiation

This article aims to review the comparative study of integration policies of European cities. The first two sections present an analytical framework for the study of immigrants’ integration processes and the policies that intend to steer such processes. The third section outlines how local integration policies have developed in relation to national policies and EU integration policies, particularly after 2003. The fourth and main section analyses the framing and content of integration policies of European cities, looking at their diversity in the legal/political dimension, the socio-economic dimension – including the domains of work, housing, education and health – and the cultural, religious and ethnic dimension. It is concluded that there is a structural convergence, in the sense that in the complex structure of multilevel governance of migration and integration, cities do take a similar position, developing horizontal relations of cooperation and exchange. Cities that develop explicit integration policies tend to do this from a more inclusive and pragmatic framing than national and EU-policies. At the same time, there is great variation in what cities actually do: in the legal/political and in the cultural/religious dimensions, framing, intentions and measures do vary greatly; in the socio-economic dimension this variation is less when it comes to the domains of activity, but more in the intensity of policy intervention. KEY WORDS: migrant policy; local integration policy; multi-level policies

Civic integration policies from below: accounting for processes of convergence and divergence in four European cities

ABSTRACTThe introduction of integration tests on a pre-entry or post-arrival basis has drawn attention to changing national integration policies. Yet, at the local level, language and civic culture courses have often been implemented before the development of national programmes. The way these policies came into place and the extent to which they responded to similar challenges has often been overlooked. This article explores the development of these measures in four cities – Stuttgart, Vienna, Barcelona and Turin – to find out which mechanisms account for convergence in policymaking. Integration courses present traits of similarity in their contents and target groups; however, this does not imply a consistent process towards convergence. Local introduction initiatives are the product of local policy arenas, which display different policy frames of migrant integration. On the other hand, new legislation and changes in the available financial resources for integration appear to be crucial factors that trigger divergence.

Perceived Discrimination and Health among Immigrants in Europe According to National Integration Policies.

Background: Discrimination harms immigrants’ health. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between perceived discrimination and health outcomes among first and second generation immigrants from low-income countries living in Europe, while accounting for sex and the national policy on immigration. Methods: Cross-sectional study including immigrants from low-income countries aged ≥15 years in 18 European countries (European Social Survey, 2012) (sample of 1271 men and 1335 women). The dependent variables were self-reported health, symptoms of depression, and limitation of activity. The independent variables were perceived group discrimination, immigrant background and national immigrant integration policy. We tested for association between perceived group discrimination and health outcomes by fitting robust Poisson regression models. Results: We only observed significant associations between perceived group discrimination and health outcomes in first generation immigrants. For example, depression was associated with discrimination among both men and women (Prevalence Ratio-, 1.55 (95% CI: 1.16–2.07) and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.15–1.89) in the multivariate model, respectively), and mainly in countries with assimilationist immigrant integration policies. Conclusion: Perceived group discrimination is associated with poor health outcomes in first generation immigrants from low-income countries who live in European countries, but not among their descendants. These associations are more important in assimilationist countries.

1960년대 민족 · 민중 문화운동과 오윤의 미술

Oh Yoon (1946-1986) formed Hyeonsil Dongin, a student association, in 1969 arguing the combination of life with art. Oh Woon opposed the Korea’s modernism art that mimics the western art and pursued art that enriches people’s lives focusing on tradition and the public. Oh Yoon created the image of workers and the public with rough and clunky but lines full of vitality. The unique art world of Oh Yoon was based on culture movement among the public in the 1960s including mask dance, Pansori (a dramatic song recital), and Madangguk (one of traditional Korean performance).BR The world where national imagination is restored in the order of human society which applies dynamic principle led by the public! It is ultimate art word dreamt by Oh Yoon. To this end, Oh Yoon was inspired by Namsadang performance and Korean Folk Art (Min-Hwa). Madangguk (one of traditional Korean performance) and vulgar painting in the late Joseon Dynasty enabled the initial art style of Oh Yoon, which started from mural movement in Mexico to be developed into a unique engraving art with sense of humor and comic touch.BR Ironically, the recognition of information including folklore, play, Min-Hwa and mask dance was the good result of support for Korean traditional music and traditional art led by the nation starting from the late 1950s. In particular, the Cultural Heritage Protection Act announced in 1962 and protection of intangible cultural asset started in 1963 enabled the research and preservation on traditional play and national data. In addition, the nationwide folklore competition contributed to making traditional culture popular among the public. The government support for national traditional culture was part of the national integration policy of the government which took power after the May 16 coup. The national culture movement was expanded and reproduced with the involvement of the private, public and business sectors in the 1960s and 1970s. Therefore, the art of Oh Yoon was looked at in the big picture of Korea’s national movement in the 1960s and 1970s that focused on the restoration of tradition.

Integrated Health and Care in Scotland – the digital link from co-production to policy

Introduction: One of the main ambitions in the Scottish Government's 2020 Vision is that by 2020, we have a healthcare system with integrated health and social care with focus on prevention, anticipation and supported self-management and which has the person at the centre of all decisions. Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare (SCTT) considers technology a key element in carrying out the health and social care service integration. SCTT is currently leading on two community and integrated care projects that have the potential to truly transform end user outcomes Living it Up (LiU) and SmartCare. Their unique approach to development and implementation through co-production methodology will ensure the sustainability and quality of innovative and integrated care services that support the national vision and policy. Policy context and objective: Integration of health and social care is the Scottish Government's ambitious programme of reform to improve services for end users. Integration will ensure that health and social care provision across Scotland is joined-up and seamless. Underpinning the programme is the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill. Population: The primary targeted population is people 50+ living in Scotland and secondly carers and health professionals. Highlights: The goal is to empower people to improve their health and wellbeing by enabling prevention and supported self-management through information and interaction. Both projects have co-production methodology to establish the needs of the users. All services and tools provided are the result of extensive and continuous community engagement events and co-design workshops attended by members of the community, service providers, technology experts and innovators. We have followed a co-design lifecycle and used different methods. 15th International Conference on Integrated Care, Edinburgh, UK, March 25-27, 2015 1 International Journal of Integrated Care – Volume 15, 27 May – URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1-116998 – http://www.ijic.org/ LiU now offers highly innovative services, tools and information through familiar technologies within 4 core service areas: Shine, Discover, Connect and Flourish. A key element in LiU is that all users can contribute and give something back to their communities, along with empowering them with a range of tools that give them the ability to self-manage. The LiU service has developed an open architecture that allows personalised user experience, which utilises a profile and dashboard environment, embracing a digital service offering for health, care and wellbeing. SmartCare delivers through LiU portal a single point of entry information, services and digital tools, such as Shared Diary/Calendar; Community Connections; Person Held File; and Independence & Enablement. Main goal is to help people and their carers to make the best use of local health and social care services to first of all prevent falls and to better manage the situation after a fall. Transferability: LiU and SmartCare demonstrates new ways of providing care services with a true focus on putting the end user and community at the centre of services and information sharing so they are empowered and able to self-manage with appropriate tools and support. This will set the standard for future innovation, health and social care services and national policy. Conclusions:Co-production is valuable tool to identify priority areas and truly innovative ways of providing fully user integrated services and thus supporting directly the national health and social care integration policy.

Multicultural marketplaces

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to bring international marketing and consumer research attention to multicultural marketplaces as a new focal research lens. It develops a conceptualisation of multicultural marketplaces, demonstrating why they constitute new conceptual territory, before specifying five key areas for research development. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws from seminal international marketing literature and other fields to propose perspective shifts, and suggest theories and frameworks of potential usefulness to the five research areas. Findings – The paper conceptualises multicultural marketplaces as place-centred environments (physical or virtual) where the marketers, consumers, brands, ideologies and institutions of multiple cultures converge at one point of concurrent interaction, while also being potentially connected to multiple cultures in other localities. Five key areas for research development are specified, each with a different conceptual focus: increasing complexity of cultural identities (identity), differentiation of national political contexts (national integration policies), intergroup conviviality practices and conflictual relationships (intergroup relations), interconnectedness of transnational networks (networks), and cultural dynamics requiring multicultural adaptiveness (competences). Research limitations/implications – For each research area, a number of research avenues and theories and frameworks of potential interest are proposed. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates why multicultural marketplaces constitute new conceptual territory for international marketing and consumer research; it provides a conceptualisation of these marketplaces and a comprehensive research agenda.

A RETROSPECT TO GERMAN PERSPECTIVES ON EUROPE: HAS GERMANY EVER PROVED TO BE KANTIAN

This paper is set out to study whether Germanys European politics can be confined into Kantian (liberal) or Bismarckian (realism) realm and to what extent these two traditions can shed light on the current policy of Germany within European Union. The clash of idealism and realpolitik are going to be used as a means to shed light on Germanys current hegemony in the EU. It is also aimed to point out how permanent emphasis on national interest is prevailing in Adenauers period and how Bismarckian way of dealing with international relations still protects its validity today. It is argued that Germanys ongoing integration policy (Kantian perspective) is an incremental tool in service of recognition in the international arena in 50s and then paving the way for a renewed hegemony of Germany in the continent. It is a significant descriptive study since it points out how Kantian approach is utilized as a means to reach Bismarckian Germany since many scholars focus on the overlap of national interest and integration policies but not questioning whether German national interest is the prime beneficiary in the process even after the WWII.

From statistical category to social category: organized politics and official categorizations of ‘persons with a migration background’ in Germany

This article addresses the question of how and in what terms states constitute ethnicity and citizenship around statistical categories when these categories lack explicitly ethnic principles of classification. It does so based on a qualitative content analysis of the way that the German statistical category of ‘persons with a migration background’ is deployed in parliamentary debates on education. We argue that state actors in organized politics, who are embedded in Germany's national cultural repertoire and integration policy repertoire, transform this nuanced statistical category into a homogenized social category that is defined in terms of language, class and exclusion from the imagined national community. Our findings demonstrate that, in order to understand how the state uses statistics to draw boundaries within a society, it is necessary to go beyond the content of statistical categories themselves.

Roles of Language in Multicultural Education in the Context of Internationalisation

Educating minority people has been a subject of multicultural education and is still practised in a framework of the nation-state. Multicultural education guarantees opportunities for minority people’s education and tries to preserve their culture, but it is often a controversial point between the majority and minority. In a multicultural society, nation-building and national integration should be imminent tasks, as such, national education plays a significant role in creating a ‘national culture’. In this process, the differences between majority and minority cultures have been discussed, and in many cases, the minority has been required to assimilate into the majority. In particular, language is a key point in the discussion because the government often forms its national integration policy by designating a national language as the medium of instruction in the national education system. Therefore, the minority is forced to learn the national language, but they often also strive to use their mother tongue in education in order to preserve their history, traditional culture and ethnic identity. Meanwhile, in this context of internationalisation, minority groups have moved beyond nations and developed various needs for language education. Language can be chosen as a strategy depending on the people’s political, economic and social position. In other words, language as culture can be a strategy for people to acquire better opportunities for study or work, and sometimes more importance is placed on learning the national language, or English, in addition to their mother tongue. These changing roles of language should be considered as a new function in multicultural education to guarantee a minority group’s educational needs. This paper discusses the changing roles of language as a factor of multicultural education by focusing on the education of minority Chinese as immigrants in Malaysia and Japan. By using the research framework of essentialism and social constructionism on culture, it clarifies that people’s demands for language education depend on their social situation, and is influenced by their transition during the emigration process. Subsequently, this paper proposes that the conventional research and practices of multicultural education have attached importance to people’s roots, but it is also important to consider their various paths when designing multicultural education.