The controversy in Germany over integration and assimilation

The word "assimiliation" may have been wrongly used in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's speech but it nonetheless addressed the problem of unsuccessful integration, Thomas Steinfeld believes. "The terms 'asssimilation' and 'integration' are actually easy to define: 'integration' means bringing together those who are different, whereby their differentness remains recognisable. 'Assimilation', on the other hand means the integration of the uprooted, their homogenisation. But no one in this country is demanding this, which makes the whole debate rather uncanny. ... It is quite likely that Erdogan spoke out against 'assimilation' because he does not want to relinquish hold on those Turks living in Germany. And thus it really cannot be ruled out that his concern for this Diaspora relieves him of the burden of other conflicts, above all the paradox that Turkey is demanding of the Kurds in its own country exactly the assimilation that it does not wish to tolerate in Germany."

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