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 per cent of the German population was of immigrant background, while the share of Muslims was estimated at approximately 5 per cent. 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.