Despite severe opposition from some sections of the international community, organizations like the Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA), political parties like AfD and the setback of the ruling Christian Democratic Union in the regional elections, the German government is sticking to its refugee policy, and trying every possible way to make it work. Germany’s first ever integration law is considered as a major step in this regard. The law will be formally voted on May 24, 2016 and will require immigrants and refugees to integrate into society as a condition for being allowed to live and work in the country. Refugees who fail to comply with the new integration measures could see their asylum support cut. The legislation would also include anti-terror measures to protect citizens and immigrants.

The proposed plan would create about 100,000 jobs, allowing refugees to work for a decent wage without their earnings counting against asylum support. The legislation proposes several other incentives like providing easier financial support for new arrivals, lifting the age limit for training schemes and shortening the necessary time to wait to enroll in integration courses.

Although the proposed legislation seems quite promising, the question remains, “Will the refugees be able to integrate or will this plan meet the same fate as other “failed” integration policies?”

The arrival of about a million immigrants and asylum seekers in Germany last year has pushed the country into unfamiliar territory and raised the question of how to ensure integration of new arrivals. Apart from guest-worker migration waves, the country has never been a destination for mass immigration from other continents and it has no legislation that addresses how new arrivals learn the German language, enter the job market and don’t live cut off from other Germans.

The aforementioned integration policy is considered as a historical step in this regard. The new measures, which need to be approved by the cabinet and parliament to become law, include measures that require migrants to be evenly distributed across the country and avoid “social trouble spots”.

One in five people living in Germany comes from an immigrant background, according to the pre-refugee crisis figures. Integration has been the subject of an ongoing debate in Germany, where Turks, many of whom came to the country as “guest workers” in the 1960’s and 1970’s, form the largest ethnic minority. Some have criticized the apparent inability or willingness of Muslim immigrants to integrate, with even Merkel declaring in 2010 that multiculturalism had “utterly failed.”

The former Mayor of Berlin district also wrote about “failed multiculturalism” in Germany in his book. The proposed integration law is a step towards negating this notion. Although it will not be a smooth process due to low education level of majority of the young refugees. The government has to work hard and consistently to achieve its objectives.

On the bright side, Germans have discovered a greater affinity with their minority communities over the years, thanks to the exploits of football stars such as Mesut Özil, who is from Turkish descent, Sami Khedira from Tunisian descent and popular German singer and rapper Namika (Hanan Hamdi) from Moroccan descent. Younger people have started making efforts to reach out to the Turkish communities to integrate themselves with their neighbors.

The Guardian reported a few young Germans who learned the Turkish language just for the sake of integration. One of them was a school teacher where some of her students were Turks and she wanted to freely communicate with her students. Another teenager started learning Turkish because he wanted to communicate with his Turkish neighbors. Similarly the media reported last year that hundreds of students and professionals volunteered during this refugee crisis and provided guidance and support to the refugees.

We also need to understand that social integration is a very slow process. The term “social integration” first came into use in the work of French sociologist Emile Durkheim. He argued that economic activities among people increase with the population density which loosens the bonds of family and religion. Durkheim coined the term organic solidarity for modern societies where people are connected by economic activities in contrast to primitive societies where people are bonded through family and religion.

Germany also need social integration based on organic solidarity. The refugees need bread and butter for their families and Germany needs manpower for economic activities.

It is a universal fact that social integration work both ways, if the locals take one step the immigrants need to take two. Refugees need to understand and learn about the local cultural norms, expectations and values. Learning language is one of the most important factors in this regard. The local authorities have already arranged language and cultural courses. It is the need of the hour that refugees take these things seriously.  

They need to respect the local traditions, irrespective of their personal likes and dislikes. It is their prerogative to spend their lives according to their own cultures if they want to and preserve their traditions but they should not impose their views or ideas on the people who are now their neighbors.

Germany showed a compassionate response to the refugee crisis and allowed about one million of them to enter the country. The way they were greeted upon their arrival has won many hearts. Now it’s time for the refugees to show Germany and the World that they truly are grateful for the opportunity and start a newer and safer life for their families by participating in all the integration and education programs.