Integration does not require assimilation

I explained in the previous blogpost why forced assimilation can’t be done.  This does not mean integration is impossible.  Cultural standardisation is not needed for a society to work.  It is not necessary for everyone to have the same religion.  Or dress according to the same style.  Forcing everyone to the same diet would still not work.  Many such cultural expressions don’t stand in the way of cooperation.  The problem is some individuals lacking an approach to such things.  Their personal shortcomings are mistaken for general human inability.

In contrast people have to learn what is allowed in the country.  Misconceptions in this area can lead to certain individuals unintentionally committing crimes.  Someone wants to do something specific and believes it to be legal.  In reality it is illegal in the country where the person lives.  Such things have to be prevented if possible.  Keeping within the boundaries of the law is the least one may demand.  Naturally there are laws which are unfair.  However, then organised protest is required and not personal ignoring.

It is of cause very good if minorities learn the ethnic majority’s language.  That they talk their own language when talking with each other is in itself not a problem.  But it is a great advantage to be able to talk with the majority.  Or with other minorities if they don’t understand each other’s languages.  This makes it possible for them to get into their society.  Otherwise parallel societies could arise with oftentimes destructive consequences.  People can behave destructively based on misconceptions on others.

In Europe there have previously been certain groups of immigrants having been hard to integrate.  They have come without skills which were in demand here.  Which doomed them to long-term unemployment.  In addition there was poor education or even illiteracy.  Without intellectual skills it becomes hard to get into society.  Unfortunately it has become a myth that everyone from a certain part of the world is.

Immigration of such to the European Union ceased with a new rule in 2001.  (I don’t think there was any connection to the 9/11 attacks.)  If someone had his or her application of asylum turned down the same transportation company had to pay for the person’s return ticket.  Mainstream companies then refused to transport possible asylum seekers.  This heavily raised the threshold of which ones could come here.  Those immigrating since then belong to a globalised middle class.  Oftentimes they already have skills making integration easier.  To get help with this they have moved near their countrymen.  However, if the later has not been integrated their chances instead decrease.  People get a faulty idea of their own opportunities.  Then they don’t even try despite they might succeed.

Otherwise there can be an idea that the recently immigrated would steal jobs.  That they would take the jobs from a pre-existing population.  This presupposes a certain society to have a constant need for work.  Which simply does not hold true.  When the population increases demand also increase for goods and services.  The society’s need for work then increase at the same time.  Moreover, the recently immigrated oftentimes take other types of jobs.  Such which those born in the country are rarely willing to take.  In such context immigration of people of working age something good.

As many as possibly should get the chance to get into the majority’s society.  Otherwise myths on what the other group are doing arise and cements.  The majority is believed to behave in a way contrary to human nature.  Setting different boundaries is mistaken for no boundaries at all.  On the other hand minorities are believed to be out to destroy.  What they as a group would earn from members of the majority being harmed usually seem to lack an explanation.

 

Uploaded on the 11th of September 2026.