Daily mail article, integration has failed in Germany. Aibu to agree with article?

It certainly read as though you were implying others haven’t tried.

Yes, agree and thank Angela Merkel for this.

😂
It's clear you're not here just for your "concerns" about Germany.

Hi OP
I am really sorry you are being piled on here. Quite frankly to have a debate about anything on here is a waste of time and you are pissing in the wind. The pearl clutching is shocking and anyone who does have something to say are far right racists.The EDL thugs, thick as mince,Islamapohobic you name it you will get it.The sheer fact that the EDL was disbanded 9 years ago has bypassed anyone who throws it at you and there is no membership list to that organization but that won;t stop them, cos its not their truth. Until this reaches the Costwolds or leafy surrey then they are all quite happy to throw the rascist crap about and tell you how awful you are. My answer is let them throw their comments until the boot is on the other foot and they are faced with the challanges other towns and cities are facing. Its bollocks but hey ho you dont get much trouble in waitrose!

I think Germany has done well considering the huge numbers of asylum seekers and migrants they have taken in. It's not a utopia, but probably a work in progress. They admitted millions of people (predominantly young men), so it may take years for effective integration to take place, especially as asylum seekers can't work - like here.
I think most of Europe is grappling with these problems.

@CantDealwithChristmas
Germany’s economy is not tanking. Germany’s GDP recently overtook Japan to become the world’s 3rd largest economy after the US and China. Forecast is looking good for the rest of this year and beyond after a small dip in 2023. Here’s a report from the German Central Bank:
www.bundesbank.de/en/press/press-releases/bundesbank-forecast-for-germany-german-economy-slowly-regaining-its-footing-933658#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Bundesbank's%20Forecast,December%202023%20Forecast%20for%20Germany.

You’ve literally listed day to day life for the vast majority of immigrant parents in any country. It is difficult to learn to use a new language, and it is not possible for adults to attain native speaker fluency, despite it being pitched as some kind of benchmark against which to measure people. It is difficult to find a social network. It is difficult to understand and navigate school systems for your kids.

You've explained that you agree with what you called failed integration, and it’s really courageous of you to disclose that a family member of yours has contributed to the failure you see. It’s good to see that you’ve not been lured by the old ‘we’re not immigrants we’re expats’ rhetoric 👏

But you seem to be suggesting that she has tried, implying that others haven’t? How do you know they haven’t? What do you mean by ‘not doing ones best to adapt?’

If you mean not learning the language, not having a German social network etc, then have you considered some of the structural reasons why it may be harder for some people to do those things than it is for others? Can you think of anything which German society could do to lessen those barriers?

You yourself said that immigration works both ways, well, it doesn’t, but integration tends to be a multi-party process, I guess that’s what you meant. It is not enough for a host country to put in place things like education etc, they also have to show that they treat immigrants with dignity and respect on a day to day basis.

A huge part of the problem in Germany and other European countries is the downright xenophobic refusal of normal everyday people to do that.

That sad old trope the "Daily Fail" is so tedious. Has anyone said it supported the Blackshirts in 1937 yet?

Just as a postscript I feel like integration has to happen long term through the children, going to nursery, then school, then the workforce, and by letting people get citizenship, then people are invested.

Yes. If you can't identify them, then you're probably part of the problem.

HTH

I've lived in Germany for a long time. I think that the problems are similar to the UK and to many other European countries - integration doesn't always happen and it's a shame because immigration is such a huge opportunity for both sides. In Germany issues include the fact that asylum seekers can't work, sometimes for years, so they're accused of living off the state but they want to work and there is such a need for workers. Also I think there is a lot of everyday discrimination. Honestly I don't feel like it's worse than France or NL but have only lived in NL out of those. Again like other European countries and UK there is a stark difference in opinions depending on income, region people live, etc.

Given the fact that Germany took 1 million Syrians in 2015/16 and another over one million Ukrainians since the war, I feel like we are doing fairly OK, given that all the (pretty plush) social services are still running. (and also it was very expensive after reunification, basically rebuilding and reskilling the entire East of the country, so much money was needed for that). The problem is that the social state in Germany with its accompanying bureaucracy is very expensive, taxes are high and there's little money to invest (cos the government hates debt so prefers to cut back than take on more debt). Yes the trains are not great, but still more or less OK. Public infrastructure is a bit crumbly, feels like it was all built very nicely in 1987 and not much since. However the social state is taking care of people and there is not the same hatred for people on benefits like in the UK.

I live in a city with a very high migrant population (including myself), and I'd say integration works pretty well in most cases, badly in some cases. The biggest hope is when kids of migrants go through the education system they get integrated, so the more generations that have been here, the better it will get.

Yes, plenty of dog whistle racism, in answer to your question. And no, I will not be providing examples, just in case that is what you will be asking next.

😂😂👏👏

"the tide has turned,"
Do people have a script of phrases they read from when it comes to bigotry topics?
Or just parrot the phrase of the moment?!
It's all the same.

Are there racist comments on this thread?

Well said.

The UK and Germany are different countries and cultures, here I see a society that is doing well (I can't speak for Germany) but I do think much more planning needs to be done - and indeed careful planning so that new arrivals are properly settled, welcomed and are a productive force that adds to the nation - because failed integration is a disaster for everyone.

We need to control the numbers - yes, because with the best will in the world, too many arrivals will see them all being failed, which helps no one.

We need to control where they are housed - so integration is possible across the whole country

We need to actually start listening to each other, listening to all views and stop the silencing and the closing down of debate.

That helps absolutely no one.

We all know we have a big problem housing everyone at the moment, and we do need to pause and look after the millions that are already here and in bedsits.
That is my view.

If you're really worried about integration, OP, what do you think about the disgusting and unprovoked attack on a mosque in Southport last night? Do you think this kind of behaviour makes it easier for Muslim families to integrate and feel included? Have you posted about this topic this morning?