Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

7.7. Multiculturalism in Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany, one of the biggest countries in Western Europe, consists of 16 federal states. Germany was one of the authors of the idea of the European Union. The population of the country is more than 81 million. Germany is also a leading country in terms of the number of migrants. Nowadays, more than 16 million migrants live in the country. Most of them are ethnic Germans, Turks and Poles, who came from less developed countries to work in Germany. German multiculturalism is connected with the protection and development of the rights of migrants.

However, during a meeting with young members of the conservative Christian Democratic Union Party in October 2010, German Chancellor Angela, Merkel openly stated that programmes to establish multiculturalism in Germany had utterly failed. After this, the idea of the failure of multiculturalism in Europe began to be voiced more frequently. Chancellor Merkel also emphasized the importance of integrating migrants working in Germany

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into the German language and German culture. She said that since the thesis that migrants should return to their countries is not appropriate, it is more acceptable for them to remain in the country. Nevertheless, the social group formed as a result of immigration still does not learn German, works in low-paid jobs (without a contract), and evades payment of taxes to the state budget. If the current situation continues unchanged, the German economy is very likely to suffer. The isolation inflicted on migrants has indeed resulted in the failure of multiculturalism in Germany. The German government does not accept the isolationist multiculturalism created in this situation.

Besides the Turks, there are some two million other immigrants from nearly 40 countries in Germany. About half a million of them are Muslims from the Middle East and Africa, and the rest are mostly from the former Yugoslavia. Unlike the Turks, they have to speak German among themselves. Since the Muslims cannot speak a single language among themselves, they cannot form themselves into a single culture. Therefore, the Turks constitute the centre of Islamic culture in Germany, both in terms of numbers and cultural associations. Three-quarters of the Muslims are practising and visit mosques. Sunnis make up the majority. However, the government does not create conditions for the Muslims in Germany to have a single centre and to form a single lobby movement to protect their rights. There is the Central Council of Jews in Germany supported by Israel and international Jewish organizations, both financially and spiritually. They receive all types of support from the German government in the field of education, financial security and rights. Although the Muslim immigrants were able to create the Association of Islamic Cultural Centres, there is no support for this organization from the governments of Muslim countries. The Muslim governments do not support this organization.

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Nevertheless, Muslims living in Germany continue to build mosques, celebrate religious festivals and teach Islam.

As a way out, the German government sets some requirements for immigrants who want to remain in the country: First of all, they must learn the German language, even if they have little participation in social life. The second requirement is that immigrants should adopt German culture. It is important for the successful integration of immigrants into German society and for social cohesion.

Since the very beginning of its work, the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre (BIMC) has sought to achieve the goals set by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and to promote Azerbaijan as a multicultural centre in the world. One of the goals is to provide the necessary moral support for the opening of BIMC branches in foreign countries, as set out in the presidential decree of 11 March 2016 ‘On the Approval of the Action Plan on 2016 as the Year of Multiculturalism in the Republic of Azerbaijan’ (Article 32). At present, the Centre has branches in Dresden (Germany), Lisbon (Portugal), Rome (Italy), Moscow and Yekaterinburg (Russia), Tel Aviv (Israel), Chisinau (Moldova) and Sofia (Bulgaria). These branches perform the mission of honorary ambassadors, thus helping to make Azerbaijan’s voice of truth and justice heard in the international arena.

The first BIMC branch began its work on 22 January 2016 in Dresden, Germany. Opening the first BIMC branch in Germany, where debates and discussions have led to the rejection of multiculturalism, was a historic event in terms of raising awareness of Azerbaijan. It was appropriate that it should have been in Dresden, where a manuscript of The Book of Dada Qorqud (Kitabi Dada Qorqud), which preserves the spiritual energy of the Azerbaijani people, is housed in the university library. The German scientist Birgit Weissgerber is the head of the Dresden Branch of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre.

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