Migration has been a key factor in Germany’s development
since the late 19th century. Initially, foreign labour was used to promote the
country’s industrial recovery; following World War II, however, the country
faced labour shortage again, which triggered a new massive influx of
migrants. The 1973 oil crisis and subsequent economic challenges served to
further aggravate the process, forcing the government to resort to using foreign sources of replenishment of manpower. As a result, the foreign
population increased dramatically, including immigrants from the Muslim
world, who found permanent jobs not only for themselves, but also for their
family members.
With the start of the new century, Germany began to see Islam as a
significant factor influencing society, adopting the Immigration Law in 2005.
However, the massive influx of refugees has sparked public debate and a
populist surge. That being said, by 2023, about 30 percent of the German
population was of immigrant background, while the share of Muslims was
estimated at approximately 5 percent. Poverty, social isolation and cultural
differences make their integration more difficult, while the Turkish community
(up to a third of the country’s total Muslim population) remains particularly
closed, as the civilizational gap between North and South creates challenges to
solving integration problems at all levels.
Germany; Türkiye; poverty; refugees; integration; conflicts; marginalization; migration crisis; illegal migrants; displaced persons; radicalization.