From ethnic minorities to ethnic majority policy: Multiculturalism and the shift to assimilationism in the Netherlands

Abstract

Recently in numerous European countries of immigration, there has been a widespread ‘moral panic’ about immigrants and ethnic diversity. In The Netherlands, a backlash has occurred in policy and in public discourse, with migrants being blamed for not meeting their responsibility to integrate and for practising ‘backward religions’. Why is it that a self-defined ‘liberal’ and ‘tolerant’ society demands conformity, compulsion and introduces seemingly undemocratic sanctions towards immigrants in a move towards assimilationism? These issues are analysed by providing an overview of modes of incorporation of immigrants in the Netherlands and it presents evidence on the socio-economic situation of immigrants. The article argues that patterns of disadvantage cannot be explained solely by the low human capital attributes of the original immigrants. In spite of multiculturalism, the causes have to be sought in pervasive institutional discrimination and the persistence of a culture of racism. The study argues that a shift to assimilation is more likely to create further societal divisions.

Keywords:

• Cultural diversity
• multiculturalism
• racism
• assimilation
• integration policy
• Netherlands

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the many researchers who have sent me material on the Netherlands. In particular, I would like to thank Lenie Brouwer, J⊘rgen Carling, Stephen Castles, Donna Driver-Zwartkruis, Han Entzinger, Philomena Essed, Hein de Haas, Karijn Nijhoff, Peter Scholten and Hans Siebers for their constructive and helpful discussion and comments. Specific thanks to Han Entzinger and Hein de Haas also for passing on relevant census tables to me.

Notes

1. The Dutch make official reference to Allochtonen – foreigners, and to Autochthonen – the ‘native Dutch’.

2. The Blok Committee was a parliamentary Investigation Committee on Immigrant Policy, set up right after the Fortuyn landslide victory in 2002 when the dominant mood was that integration policy had completely failed.

3. In mid 2006 it is still being discussed in the Second Chamber.

4. Similar issues about a shift to assimilation have been raised in the UK eg Back, L., Keith, M., Khan, A., Shukra, K. and Solomos, J 2002 ‘New Labour's White Heart: Politics, Multiculturalism and the Return to Assimilation’, Political Quarterly 73(4): 445–454.

5. This ILO project is currently being repeated in 2005–6.

6. Naturalization; allowances for religious practices outside of public institutions eg call to prayer; cultural rights and provisions in public institutions eg headscarf; political representational rights and affirmative action.

7. Parliamentary affirmation of multiculturalism; adoption of multiculturalism in the school curriculum; inclusion of ethnic representation; exemptions from dress codes; dual citizenship; funding ethnic organizations’ cultural activities; funding of bi-lingual education or mother-tongue instruction; affirmative action.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ellie Vasta

ELLIE VASTA is Senior Researcher and Programme Head, Integration and Social Change, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society [COMPAS], University of Oxford.