Identity and Integration: Migrants in Western Europe(Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations Series)

Symbolic boundaries, cultural differences and ethnic conflicts have gained significance and new meanings in a global situation characterized by the dissolution of traditional political and societal structures. Communications and political and economic interactions increasingly cross the borders of states, nations and ethnic communities, and yet symbolic borders and separate group identities are nevertheless asserted. The perceived efforts of migrants to maintain their cultural and ethnic identities are often blamed as a cause of conflict within nation states. This intriguing volume recognizes that migrants with an Islamic background are seen as especially problematic cases. Turks are the biggest category among Muslim migrants in Europe and more than one third of all Muslim migrants in Europe are from Turkey. Referring primarily to immigration from Turkey, this book combines both exemplary case studies of Turks within Europe and theoretical papers with innovative perspectives on the relations between integration and identity.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction: collective identities and social integration, Rosemarie Sackmann. Part I: Collective Identity and Social Integration: Collective identity, cultural difference and the developmental trajectories of immigrant groups, Bernhard Peters; Public culture in societies of immigration, Rainer Bauböck; Spheres of integration: towards a differentiated and reflexive ethnic minority policy, Godfried Engbersen; New forms of Britishness: post-immigration ethnicity and hybridity in Britain, Tariq Modood; Religious traditionality in multicultural Europe, Ursula Apitzsch. Part II: The Self-Localization of Migrants: Custom tailored Islam? Second generation female students of Turko-Muslim origin in Germany and their concept of religiousness in the light of modernity and education, Yasemin Karakasoglu; Post-migration Islam: negotiating space in Dutch society, Thijl Sunier; The first generation of Turkish male migrants - a 'Second Hand Image' or a 'First Hand Image'?, Margret Spohn; Collective identities of Turkish migrants in Germany - the aspect of self-localization, Kathrin Prümm, Rosemarie Sackmann and Tanjev Schultz. Part III: Where is 'Home'? The Perspective of Transnational Theories: Adolescent positioning in urban space - locality and transnationality, Sven Sauter; Between Europe and nation-states: the Turkish transnational community, Riva Kastoryano; Amalgamating newcomers, national minority, and diaspora - integration(s) of immigrants from Poland in Germany, Thomas Faist; Postscript: cultural difference and collective identity in processes of integration, Rosemarie Sackmann; Index.

About the Author :
Dr Rosemarie Sackmann, is a Social Scientist and Assistant Professor at the University of Bremen. Professor Dr Bernhard Peters, is Professor of Political Science at the University of Bremen and Co-director of the Institute for Intercultural and International Studies (InIIS). Professor Dr Thomas Faist, is Professor of Political Science and Director of International Studies in Political Management (ISPM) at the University of Applied Sciences Bremen.

Review :
’...an important and timely volume by an impressive group of scholars. It avoids the lack of cohesiveness common in edited works, and although focused on Western Europe contains numerous lessons and comparisons for other immigrant-receiving societies such as North America and Australia.’ Journal of International Migration and Integration ’This is an extremely useful and informative book, looking at how identities are forged, how they co-exist, and how they change over time. There is a wealth of empirical observation coming from a wide range of research...’ Church & Race