Case study: The Netherlands

1. Case study:The Netherlands Dutch flag EU policies towards ethnic minorities Winter semester 2006 – December 6, 2006 Typical Dutch village

2. Country profile: basic stats • Population: 16,339,385 (August 2006 est.) • Ethnic groups: Dutch 81% (13,2 million) Immigrants Western descent 8,5% (1,4 million) Immigrants non-Western descent 10,5%(1,7 million) Of which 41% are born in NL  “2nd generation” • Religions: (2002) Roman Catholic 31% Dutch Reformed 13% Calvinist 7% Muslim 6% other 2.5% none 40.5% • Immigrants of nonwestern origin: Turks 2.3% (364.000) Surinamese 2.1% (331.000) Moroccans 2.1% (323.000) Antilleans 0.8% (130.000) • Asylum • 2004  9.800 • 2005  12.350

3. History • Prior to WWII: monocultural society • Regional differences • Nationbuilding process • Emigration • Religious freedom, tolerance, and pillarisation • After WWII: immigration • Immigration • Multiculturalism • Political correctness • Dutch culture unifies • Cultural issues / segregation

4. History (cont.) • 1950’s: immigration of Indonesiers • Ex-colony • Dutch language • Integration ease • 1960’s: wave of immigrants from Southern Europe • Spanish and Italians • Work • Stayed short

5. History (cont.) • 1970’s: immigration of Surinamers • Ex-colony • Independency 1975 • Dutch language • 1960’s-1990’s: immigration of Muslims from Turkey and Marocco • Work temporarily - stayed • Dutch aid • Generational differences

6. Politicians & Policies • PM Den Uyl (1970’s) • Immigrant policy • Prisma of multiculturalism, Political correctness • Dutch adaptation to immigrants • No debate about integration and immigration • PM Lubbers (1980’s) • Prisma of multiculturalism, Political correctness • No debate about integration and immigration • Neutral policy: no adaptation • Reunification of broader familie • “Bride import”

7. Politicians & Policies (cont.) • PM Kok  Bolkenstein (1990’s) • No debate about integration and immigration • Politicians agree to avoid immigration debate • Political correctness continues, but… • Concepts of political correctness and multiculturalism show signs of problems  Gap between politicians and public opinion widens fast • Slow decrease of immigration • Bolkenstein, first politician who mentions immigration issues

8. Politicians & Policies (cont.) • Fortuyn (2002) • massive support for Fortuyn • Critized Islamitization of Netherlands Wanted certain degree of assimilation Wanted integration and not segregation • BUT also had many ideas not connected to integration, immigration, or Islam  smaller-scale organisation of public services, moral standards, liberal Critized (politic) elite • Moved Dutch political spectrum to the right • Created space for conservative parties

9. Politicians & Policies (cont.) • PM Balkenende  Verdonk (2000’s) • Van Gogh murdered • Verdonk thougher on illegal immigrants • Less immigrants • Political correctness of 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s replaced by open debate about integration and immigration • Introduction of “Rotterdam policy” • Wilders (VVD  own party / 2006) • Wilders & Pastors first real conservative parties • No veils in public functions • Immigration stop of non-Westerners • Change constitution  Christian, Jewish, and humanistic roots to remain dominant • 5 year stop of mosques and Islamic schools • Close radical mosques, expel radical imams • Forbid the wearing of bhurkas

10. Politicians & Policies (cont.) • Current general opinion • Main task is integration, pluralism, repair balance: • The immigrants should: - master the Dutch language - participate in Dutch society - contacts between ethnic groups - acknowlegde Dutch norms & values - activily create their own chances, supported by opportunities given by the government

11. Elections 2006 • Traditional parties lose: • Christen D.: 44  41 -3 • Labour: 42  33 -9 • Liberals: 28  22 -6 • D66: 6  3 -3 • Right and left win: • Socialists: 9  25 +16 • Wilders: 1  9 + 8 • (Verdonk): 620.000 votes  9 seats • Government Coalition possibilities: • Christen / Socialist Chr.Dem, Labour, Soc. most likely: 3 parties & 99/150 seats • Christen / Liberal / Conservative  Chr.Dem, Liberals, Wilders  not so likely: 4 parties&76/150

12. Integration & Immigration policy Coordination: • Ministry of Justice • Ministry for Immigration and Integration Minister is Verdonk / part of Justice • Goals of ministry: • Better integration • Restrictive entrance policy  • Combat illegals and effective remigration policy of illiegals 

13. Integration & Immigration policy • ETA The Equal Treatment Act (1994)  The Equal Treatment Commission (semi-judicial) • Newcomers Integration Act (1998)/ Wet inburgering nieuwkomers • “Stranger Act” / Vreemdelingen Wet (2000) • “Live Together Act” / Wet Samen (2004)  Replacement National Network Diversity • Rotterdam Act (2006) • Integration Act / Wet Inburgering (2007)

14. What are the “problems”? • “No integration, society is segregated” • Ethnic minorities live in biggest cities, city centers, high density (80%) • Ethnic Dutch live in suburbs • Increasing tension between the two groups

15. Muslim irritations • Discrimination in the job market • Criminality statistics in media prejudice immigrants, mainly Moroccans & Turks • Generalization of terrorism to whole Muslim population • Electoral gains of conservatives • Less tolerance from Dutch

16. Criminality Statistics • The official statistics of criminality

17. Dutch irritations • Culture problems: • Equal rights women • Liberal democracy • Handshake • Murder of honor not acceptable • Holocaust • Islamitization of NL • High costs, low benefits: health care costs, social care expenses, integration difficulties • Murder van Gogh • Irritations towards political correctness of 70s/80s/90s

18. The End Thank you for your attention ! Questions?

19. Niet-westers = non-western foreignerWesters = western foreignerAutochtoon = native Dutch 1e generatie = 1st generation2e generatie = 2nd generation3e generatie = 3rd generation