Lessons from Canada and Germany

摘要

There have been important similarities between Canada’s and Germany’s policies and approaches towards immigration and integration, ranging from practices of ethnic and racial exclusion in the f?irst part of the last century to the subsequent development of both countries “into de-facto multicultural societies” (Triadaf?ilopoulos, 2012: 2). However, because of signif?icant diffferences in their historical contexts, as well as in the contemporary political and geographical circumstances that shape immigration and integration discourses and policies, considerable variations remain (Bauder, 2011). This special issue explores recent developments related to the immigration and integration experiences in both countries. Comparisons between Canada and Germany with respect to immigration and integration have become of increasing scholarly interest in recent years (e.g. Bauder, 2006b, 2008, 2011; Bendel and Kreienbrink, 2008; Reitz et al., 1999; Geiβler, 2003; Schmidtke, 2010; Schultze, 1994; Triadaf?ilopoulos, 2004, 2006, 2012; Winter, 2007; ZWH, 20091 ). Apparently, comparisons of Canada and Germany have much to offfer to migration research and policy making in that they “can de-center what is taken for granted” and thereby “challenge conventional wisdom” related to immigration and integration (Bloemraad, 2013: 29).