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" Post-reunification German identity and racism : "
Navidi, Ute.
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Latin Dissertation
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| Record Number
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1094855
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| Doc. No
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TLets362351
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| Main Entry
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Navidi, Ute.
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| Title & Author
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Post-reunification German identity and racism :\ Navidi, Ute.
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| College
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Birkbeck (University of London)
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| Date
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1996
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| student score
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1996
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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| Abstract
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Post-reunification developments in German society, including the intensification of racism andnationalism, and the question of German identity, have led to a wide-ranging internationaldebate. My thesis discusses some of the controversial issues and arguments raised, in an effort tounderstand the specific forms of contemporary German racism.The legal status and the political economy of asylum seekers are analysed, as are the debatesleading to the mid-1993 change in Germany's Basic Law. Until then, a unique right whichguaranteed asylum had existed. Its insertion into (West) Germany's provisional constitution in1949 had been more ideologically than altruistically motivated. The change in legislation,primarily aimed at appeasing the racists, had the immediate effect of curbing numbers.Focusing on East-West migration, Germany's constitutional policy of accepting ethnic Germansfrom Eastern Europe is scrutinised. Previously a tool in the Cold War armoury, this open-armedapproach was curtailed by an embryonic immigration law.In the aftermath of the collapse of 'communism' and German reunification, the integration offoreigners and of east- and ethnic Germans raised new questions about their respective rights. Anexamination of the changing terms of debate about citizenship and identity in German societyreveals the different consequences for both citizens and non-citizens. Through briefly comparingGerman with French citizenship, the peculiarity of the former, and the framework for assessingthe current 'dual nationality versus naturalisation' controversy, is established.Political and theoretical interest in German identity has resurfaced. In determining the keycomponents of post-war identity, I found that anti-communism had stood out in serving as anegative reference point; now it is increasingly being replaced by racism. The mixture ofbiological and political factors in the new make-up of German collective identity appears toleave no room for foreigners.The critique of the contemporary German Left's approach to racism and identity is backed up byevents in the city state of Bremen, particularly around the 1991 local elections, which -alongside fascist successes - revealed the Left's difficulty in sustaining a consistent anti-racism.The conclusion indicates that the issues of asylum, immigration and ethnic Germans hadrequired serious answers before 1989. Reunification catapulted them to centre stage. The lack ofa coherent theory and strategy is reflected in the ad-hoc, contradictory nature of policies dealingwith the various categories of migrants. The 'solutions' proposed within the context of theGerman nation state are finally contrasted with those currently discussed at the European level.
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| Subject
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Nationalism; Asylum; Immigration; Citizenship
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| Added Entry
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Birkbeck (University of London)
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