Global Insight: Germany’s furious debate on immigration

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Series Title
Series Details 2.9.10
Publication Date 02/09/2010
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Thilo Sarrazin, a board member of the Bundesbank, the German central bank, and a controversial former Social Democrat finance minister of the city of Berlin has tipped Germany into a furious debate on immigration and the integration of immigrants – especially Muslims – into society.

His new book published in the summer of 2010 – 'Deutschland schafft sich ab', which translates roughly as 'Germany’s getting rid of itself' – is an undisguised attack on the perils of excessive immigration. Its attack on the failure of Muslim migrants to integrate into German society has become the principal topic of political debate in Berlin. It has also embarrassed the Bundesbank and the Social Democratic party.

Related Links
EurActiv, 12.10.10: German government shaken by new anti-immigration controversy http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/german-government-shaken-new-anti-immigration-debate-news-498740
http://euobserver.com/9/31018 http://euobserver.com/9/31018
Die Tageszeitung, 30.8.10: Now Sarrazin baits the Jews (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/326281-now-sarrazin-baits-jews
Die Tageszeitung, 14.10.10: Muslims become Germany's whipping boy (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/361381-muslims-become-germanys-whipping-boy
Spiegel Online International, 6.9.10: Why Sarrazin's Integration Demagoguery Has Many Followers http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,715876,00.html
BBC News, 31.8.10: German angst over immigration http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/08/german_angst_over_immigration.html
Deutsche Welle, 31.8.10: Opinion: Germany must take a close look at racism in the country http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5962610,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 31.8.10: Renegade Central Banker 'Tells Devastating Story' of Integration http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,714839,00.html

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