Refugee ‘Integration’: policy and Refugee ‘Integration’: policy and discourse in the UK and Germanydiscourse in the UK and Germany

Berhanu Kassayie

Changing Policy & legislative environmentChanging Policy & legislative environment

Hysteria post September 11 Worsening situation in source countries

Increase in immigration

Strengthening appeal for right-wing politics

Ever increasing demand for inward migration

Ageing population, Race in ‘globalisation’

New migration from ‘non-traditional’ regions and EU enlargement

Refugees: myth Refugees: myth and reality and reality 20052005World refugee population 9, 167, 900

Region Refugees % Asylum seekers % Total %

Africa 33 33 33

Asia 39 12 36

Europe 21 29 21

Latin America & Caribbean 0 1 1

Northern America 6 25 8

Oceania 1 0 1

Total 100 100 100

Germany 0.9 0.1 0.8

United Kingdom 0.3 0.9 0.3

Refugees: myth Refugees: myth and reality Trendand reality Trend

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

1997-1998

1998-1999

1999-2000

2000-2001

2001-2002

2002-2003

2003-2004

2004-2005

Refugees Asylum seekers

Refugees: myth Refugees: myth and reality- and reality- England England

• Population 49.1m. Economically inactive 29% or 14.2mPopulation support ratio 2.2:1

Asylum seekers 59,000 Potential refugee settlement demand :

0.1% of population 0.001 person / 1000 citizens.

Getting population support ratio close to the 3:1 means95,000 inward migration for the next 20 years Deficit in 2001 amounted to 35, 500

Refugees: myth Refugees: myth and reality- Englandand reality- EnglandEstimate based on 30% success rate:

Potential refugee settlement: 0.5% population or

0.05 refugees / 1000 citizens.

Economic implications:0.03% rise in unemployment0.007% decline in unfilled vacant positions 0.001% rise in BME population 0.9 Vacant housing per homeless person including refugees.

Emerging Policy frameworkEmerging Policy framework

Changes in perspectives‘Securitisation’ of immigrationDeterrence led restrictive immigration

legislationManaged migration

Does this mean changes in the global and receiving countries are turning refugees into ‘visible’ migrants we can do without?

A quest to redefining the A quest to redefining the fundamentals?fundamentals?

• The UN 1951 Convention

• Historical roots

• Evolution since the late 1980s

• The post 9/11 discourse

• A human right or a positive contribution argument?

Integration: the concept Integration: the concept

A nebulous concept shaped by ideological,

political and socio-historical factors

A process of mutual adaptation focusing on

overcoming the differential disadvantage of

refugees.

Integration: UK and Germany 1Integration: UK and Germany 1

Contrast and similarity : Historical roots

Dissociation of asylum from integration

Integration policy: Social marginalisation/ social economic cohesion

Laissez fare / corporatist

Integration: UK and Germany 2Integration: UK and Germany 2Contrast and similarity:

NGO role: large complimentary / numerous localised ‘autonomous’

Integration and the receiving community, systems and agencies

Refugees in integration discourse

Integration: UK and Germany 3Integration: UK and Germany 3

Tendency to converge?

• Deterrence led restrictionist policy

• The social cohesion agenda: A move away from multiculturalism Destitution in material welfare Integration a governance challenge of community relation

Integration: a community Integration: a community development modeldevelopment model

Personal Empowerment

PositiveAction

Community Relation

Participation & Influence

Concluding remarksConcluding remarks

The debate to be had:

The right for protection

Social cohesion: rights based / assimilationist

Citizenship, culture- dynamic?

Governance: Immigration control and integration

Democratic impatience and the integration ideal

Integration: a refugee perspectiveIntegration: a refugee perspective“Still feel hungry though I have lots to eat

Still feel thirsty though I have plenty to drinkStill feel restless though I have enough sleep

Still feel the cold though I am well dressed Still feel homeless though I have a shelter Still feel like a stranger and I keep losing my wayWhy, why do I?Still feel distressed when asked

where am I from”Translated verse, Aster Aweke’s song- ‘Sew Hulu Bageru’

Thank you!Thank you!

Berhanu Kassayie