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Unit 14

Cities and immigration

Cities attract immigrants and need to ensure their
successful integration.
A “We are rich and happy because we have so many C Successful cities are ones which value diversity and
immigrants,” explained Wolfgang Schuster, Mayor where local governments encourage conditions in which
of Stuttgart. This came as a surprise to the jury immigrants and all residents thrive. Thus as service
of Germany’s first national competition on local providers, local governments are responsible for areas

integration policy. The competition “Successful that affect our daily lives, such as schools, emergency

integration is no coincidence – Strategies for services, swimming pools and soccer fields, parks and
community policy” showed that cities and towns streets, while as democratic institutions, they draw

were starting to think differently about immigration. on community input and create opportunities for all
Previously, integration and migration had been viewed residents to participate in transparent and accountable
as a nuisance, a peripheral issue, and, above all, as a decision-making.
problem. The untapped potential of immigrants and
Local governments also drive economic development to

their economic and strategic significance had long been
ensure that the city prospers. As major employers, they
overlooked.
can institute good practices by hiring immigrants and
Following a phase of restrictive migration policy in managing a diverse workforce. As major buyers of goods
many countries, the last few decades have seen more and services, they can ensure that immigrant-owned
open immigration policies that focus on skilled labour. or immigrant-friendly businesses have a fair chance
There is now global competition for information to compete for public contracts. In these ways, local
technology professionals, creative artists and highly governments contribute to labour market integration
skilled individuals upon whom to place our hopes and the success of local businesses across all sectors of
for future prosperity. “Brain gain” rather than “brain the population.
drain” is the driving force in today’s migration policies.
D It has long been recognised that urban areas, especially
large cities, are places where cultural diversity fl ourishes.
B “We are living in “the Age of Migration.” More humans Cities like New York, Paris, London and Amsterdam,
than ever now live outside their country of birth. More which receive migrants from all over the world,
countries than ever are now major senders or receivers exemplify the cultural, social, and religious diversity that

of migration flows. And whatever part of the world many believe is a fundamental characteristic of places
migrants move to, they overwhelmingly settle in cities. that will thrive –economically and socially – in an era of
global interdependence.
Cities have always been composed of diverse
populations with the interaction between diff erent Past experience demonstrates, however, that cultural

ethnic groups forming the essence of big city life for diversity in itself is not a sufficient condition to bring

3,000 years. By definition, cities are places that attract about the sustained inclusion of the different groups that

outsiders, and which constitute a meeting place between populate a city. The collapse into inter-ethnic conflict

different cultures. On what terms do these diff erent of some once relatively harmonious multicultural cities
cultures converge in the modern city? The answer is that highlights the fragility of cultural diversity. Managing
the well-being of cities now depends on whether they cultural exchanges among people and organisations, and
can create an inclusive public culture. Such successful dealing directly with inequities and discrimination are
integration may well begin on the street, as accepting challenges that cities must face if they are to be socially
diversity implies sharing public space. inclusive and culturally diverse.

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