It all sounds well and good in theory, but how does it all work in practice? Do immigrants and natives interact harmoniously? Do they live happily next to each other? The arrival of people with a traditional we-culture into a society with a modern Western I-culture can cause a clash. For example, regarding views on personal relationships. You can distinguish cultures based on 5 concepts:
- Power distance: the extent to which people with little power accept this and do not need to consult
- Individualism: the extent to which individual development is preferred over what is important to the group
- Masculinity: the extent to which male roles can be distinguished from female roles
- Uncertainty avoidance: the extent to which people feel threatened by uncertain situations and therefore want rules
- Long-term orientation: the extent to which people are focused on the changing future rather than on the past and present
Yet you cannot speak of ‘the’ Muslim culture or ‘the’ Dutch culture, because everyone is different. Different countries, generations, families, social strata. You can discover big differences between different cultures. Take Islam and Dutch culture, for example. Islam is traditional and formal, while ours is modern and very free.
Debate
Right-wing politicians say that the Islamic faith is lagging behind because it has not experienced enlightenment. Muslims are not very tolerant and consider themselves the best. The faith is old-fashioned and not even democratic. There is an apparent tolerance in the Netherlands. People are afraid of being labeled racist. We must crack down on this bad culture.
Left-wing politicians believe that the gap between Western culture and Islamic culture is exaggerated . There are extremists in every religion and Muslims are the most decent democratic citizens. They have become victims of the stereotypical images created by the media, while communal thinking in Islam is very positive. They are wrongly labeled as second-class citizens.
Immigration and minority formation
When people change their place of residence (in another country) for a longer or permanent period of time, we call it migration. They have different motives for this. The main reasons are:
- (Civil war
- (Natural) disasters
- Economical reasons
- Racial hatred, ethnic reasons
- Religion
- Political views
Many different names have been used for foreigners living in the Netherlands:
- Migrants: people who move from one country to another. The reason differs per group, but also per person.
- Migrant workers: there was too much work in the Netherlands and too little in many South European and North African countries. At first, only men came to work, but later, due to family reunification, women and children also came
- Migrants from (former) colonies: people from Indonesia, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles live here as a result of the colonial relationship that the Netherlands has (had) with these countries.
- Asylum seekers: migrants who do not yet know whether they can stay in the new country. Only when the asylum seeker has proven that he is in danger in his own country will the immigration service recognize the asylum seeker. Then the asylum seeker is a refugee
- Refugees: people whose whereabouts are known (they were previously asylum seekers)
About 10% of the Dutch population is of non-Western origin. On average, they are younger than the native Dutch and have more children. They mainly live in the Randstad, where houses are cheap, there is plenty of work to be found and fellow countrymen already live there. There is spatial segregation in the cities. Immigrants live separately from natives because they like to live with people of their own kind. High-income natives are moving to more expensive neighborhoods outside the city.
Remigration
Remigration (return of guest workers) has remained limited. Homesickness was an important reason for the first generation. Unemployment and the social climate towards immigrants are also reasons to return to their own country. The government makes this attractive by offering low benefits.
Debate
Left-wing politicians emphasize a generous migration policy. According to international law, every person has the right to a safe and dignified existence. We cannot take that away from them. To let immigrants in, we help developing countries. It is also good for our economy, as our country is aging.
Central politicians assume a circulation migration policy. Temporary stay and a temporary contract and then they can return.
Right-wing politicians are in favor of a restrictive migration policy. They only want to admit people very selectively who can really do something for the country, because the Netherlands is deteriorating!