Basel integration model

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The Basler integration model is a 1999 by the ethnologist Rebekka Ehret developed and the integration commissioner Thomas Kessler in Canton Basel-Stadt reacted integration model for immigrants. It includes support measures for foreigners who want to integrate, but also sanctions against those unwilling to integrate. The integration model is based on the principle of “ Support and challenge - from day one, binding”. The model became very well known and is repeatedly used as a model for a successful integration policy.

Development of the model

For the 1997 to 2001 term of office, the Basel government council set itself the goal of “population and urban development” as one of four key areas. In this context, the government council then also touched on the subject of integration. Up until this point in time, integration policy in the canton was based on the classic deficit approach, which assumed a general need to catch up on the part of migrants and focused on eliminating these integration deficits and problems. In 1999, the Basel government council commissioned the ethnologist Rebekka Ehret from the University of Basel to develop a model and action plan for Basel's integration policy. This document represented a complete change of direction, as the "resource-oriented potential approach" was now used. This approach no longer regards integration deficits as problems for migrants and wants to use the skills and potential of migrants, such as their multilingualism and intercultural skills, for example for “ cultural brokers ”. In the one-year elaboration of this 22-page document, over 170 specific specialist groups as well as migrants were included. In 2001 the Grand Council approved the resolution to implement the new model with a large majority. The former drug delegate of the city of Basel, Thomas Kessler, who had held the office of integration officer since 1998, was commissioned to implement the model.

In order to keep the model up to date, it is continuously revised. In 2004, the action plan was overtaken by the interdepartmental network integration and adapted to the current situation. In addition, the canton's government council issues an annual policy plan that also contains requirements for integration. In the 2009–2013 legislative plan, the aim was once again specifically to improve the welcoming culture and equal opportunities. In 2012, the mission statement from 1999 was supplemented again. With the cantonal integration program 2014-2017, newcomers are welcomed on the first day and at work.

The 2008 Integration Act

Since January 1, 2008, the new Asylum and Foreign Nationals Act has been in force in Switzerland , in which the Basel principle of “demanding and promoting” has also been anchored in law at the national level. At the same time, a new integration law was passed in the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, based on partnership, which gives the already existing integration policy at the cantonal level a legal basis. The difference between the cantonal integration law and the Swiss law on foreigners is the obligation of foreigners to cooperate and attend courses. At the federal level, this point is only stipulated in chapter two of the Aliens Act by means of a few, non-binding formulations. According to the integration authority's own statement in 2007, the law is the most modern in Europe.

The guiding principle

The three main ideas

The mission statement developed by Ehret is based on three main ideas:

  1. The integration policy takes as a basis the already existing potential, achievements, skills and competencies of all those involved. Multilingualism and cultural diversity should be seen and used as an opportunity. The resulting lack of knowledge in others, e.g. B. linguistic areas are not to be seen as a pure deficit as before. Instead, work, school and vocational training should also be promoted among migrants. This is more effective than simply eliminating language deficits.
  2. Integration is a process that involves the entire population and everyone is involved in this process. Barriers to participation in social life are to be removed in all areas and every person should be able to participate equally in social, political, economic and professional life.
  3. Differences must be handled consciously and carefully. These differences should not be explained superficially by cultural or ethnic differences, nor should gender-specific differences be ignored or neutralized. Everyone is perceived as an individual.

Implementation ideas

In the guidance paper , various implementation ideas related to Basel were explained:

In the school, the focus should be on the language skills of the students who are learning German as a second language, so that they are promoted in German if necessary. Every child should have the same opportunities at school. In adult education, in addition to language courses, civic studies, parenting courses, career advice and catching up with the primary school certificate are to be offered. In addition, degrees obtained abroad should be recognized as far as possible.

In the area of ​​employment, an information campaign is to be carried out in the private sector so that companies can support the migrants they employ and inform them about integration offers. Migrants are systematically promoted in public companies.

District offices are to be set up in the districts, which, as the administrative arm, are closer to the population. These offices work together with the various administrative departments. It is also proposed that mediators be used who take on the role of justice of the peace from among the population in their quarters. These measures are to be built into the existing neighborhood structures.

In order to make the discussion about integration more objective, a publicity campaign is to be started. For this purpose, the establishment of an expert committee was proposed in the guidance paper . There are now poster campaigns in Basel with slogans against discrimination. Integration Basel also provides the population with information as best it can to involve them in the integration process. If there is a need for information on special points, these must be prepared for the public.

In order to ensure equality, migrants should have a say at the political level. If this integration model were to succeed, the migrants would have to be given the right to vote and to vote. Specific political goals in this area up to 2002 were the introduction of cantonal voting rights for foreigners; however, an initiative to introduce it was clearly rejected by the Basel electorate in 2010.

Addition from 2012

In 2012, the mission statement was supplemented again to take account of the latest developments in Basel. Since the introduction of the free movement of persons, the proportion of the foreign population has risen from 27.5% to 33%, with the proportion of German citizens doubling to over 14,000 inhabitants. It became necessary to adapt work for the elderly and care for the elderly to the aging migrant population. Protection against discrimination has now been included in the model, which was not yet included in the 1999 model, but has already been laid down at the legal level and is also being implemented. Further additions relate to the exchange of religions, access to official and informal information for migrants as well as their participation.

implementation

The implementation of the integration model is subject to Integration Basel , which is subordinate to the security department of the canton of Basel-Stadt. Integration officer Thomas Kessler was the head of Integration Basel until the end of 2008 , who was also responsible for implementation. Kessler is now a sought-after expert on integration issues. After the start of the new integration model, the canton of Basel-Stadt received an annual funding contribution of around 1.2 million francs (as of 2002), the highest amount in Switzerland at the time. The joint projects of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft received a further CHF 300,000. In 2008, cooperation between the two cantons and other cantons was expanded even further. According to Thomas Kessler, the greatest challenge in integration is the re-registration and integration of the workers brought in from the low-wage countries of Yugoslavia and Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s, some of whom then brought their families to join them. Since June 2011 Nicole von Jacobs has been the head of the new Diversity and Integration department in the Cantonal and Urban Development Department. This specialist unit was formed as part of a reorganization of the Equal Opportunities and Integration department.

Principles

The following principles for implementing the model in practice are derived from the model for integration:

  • A social policy is pursued that distinguishes between social and economic values, but not according to ethnic origin. The aim here is to prevent migrants from falling into social decline.
  • Those who get involved should also be supported. This is facilitated by the removal of structural barriers. The integration agency's expectations are clearly communicated.
  • Prejudices are to be reduced by informing the population. Many problems with foreigners are caused by the inadequate information and education of the population.

Agreements with migrants

If all other internal measures for integration, such as requirements and sanctions, fail, so-called “migration agreements” can be concluded between the integration office and the migrants. In these agreements, the granting of a residence permit to migrants, based on their individual problems, can be linked to attending language, integration or political studies courses. Integration deficits include language deficits, social isolation, lack of respect for the law and the legal system, financial dependency, lack of career prospects, receipt of social assistance over a longer period of time, failure to observe the duty of upbringing to the detriment of the child's welfare or failure to observe the protection and support of young people. The knowledge of the national language should correspond to at least level A1, A2 or B1 of the European reference framework . The obligation to attend these educational offers is intended to protect migrants from isolation. For example, women from patriarchal families or other socially isolated people can also attend these courses. In 2011, 75 such migration agreements were signed in the canton of Basel-Stadt.

These migration contracts are a central point of the model and an integral part of the “Demand” part of the principle of “Support and Demand”. With the help of the new cantonal integration law, it is possible to refuse immigrants a residence permit if they do not comply with the requirements. The law requires serious commitment in the completed language or integration course and also explicitly mentions the applicability in the event of family reunification . However, based on such agreements, not all foreigners can be expelled: Migrants who have been recognized as having a reason for asylum cannot simply be expelled from Switzerland, as this would violate human rights. In addition, citizens from the EU, due to the free movement of persons, as well as foreigners married to Swiss people, have a fundamental freedom of establishment. According to a study from 2010, this unequal treatment is also the greatest weakness of these agreements.

In December 2012, the SVP submitted a cantonal popular initiative for more of these migration contracts to be concluded, but explicitly excluded wealthy foreigners, so-called expats , from this. For example, the SVP wants to include mandatory swimming pool visits for school children in such contracts. The initiative “for a better integration of foreigners” is borne by the SVP alone.

Project funding

In addition to various projects of its own, Integration Basel supports around 60 to 70 external projects geared towards migrants or residents that correspond to the mission statement. Funding can be applied for. The projects, often initiated by migration associations, serve to break down obstacles to integration, provide information, preventive measures, promote personal responsibility and acquire language skills. All projects are checked regularly.

Mediators

As suggested in the mission statement, the mediation project was implemented by an association founded for this purpose. The mediators are recognized by the Swiss umbrella association for mediation or have an equivalent training. The more than 50 mediators look after various specialist areas such as family, school or administration and are called by a conflict party and charge their work at an hourly rate after a free consultation with the aim of finding an amicable solution for the parties involved. An imam classified as fundamentalist , who was expelled from the country in 2001, was convicted by such mediators.

Neighborhood work

In the neighborhoods, there is a lot of collaboration with the neighborhood associations, which are closer to the population. By including migrants in neighborhood life, their social exclusion is prevented. For example, Integration Basel supports events for newcomers in individual neighborhood associations. In addition to the 17 independent neighborhood associations, there are 15 neighborhood meeting points in Basel. In addition, the two district offices of Basel-West and Kleinbasel also offer two additional contact points.

public relation

From 2000 to 2005, a campaign was run in the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft under the name “Facts against prejudice”. The “All Beginnings are Encounters” campaign has been running since 2005, and was also launched in cooperation with the cantons of Aargau and Solothurn . The cantons of Bern and Zurich have now also joined. In this campaign, advertisements are mainly used in free, local and neighborhood newspapers as well as official publications. This project is supported by the Federal Commission on Migration Issues (EKM).

The migration newspaper “MIX” has been published every six months since 2000, and only annually from 2005 to 2007, with a circulation of 400,000 to 500,000 copies. Until 2007 the newspaper was distributed free of charge in the cantons of both Basels and in larger municipalities in the cantons of Aargau and Solothurn. From 2008 the newspaper, which then appeared every six months, was only distributed in the other cantons in the corresponding contact points, so that the circulation is only 100,000. The newspaper was launched as part of the “fact against prejudice” campaign and each issue deals with a different topic relating to integration. MIX is primarily intended to reach educated, enlightened readers who are used to reading newspapers.

Integration Basel has also financially supported films by Basel filmmakers that promote discussion on the subject of integration.

The campaign has an extensive internet offering. For example, you can also download the mission statement, the migration newspaper and various brochures directly from the Internet or have some of them delivered to your home free of charge.

Recognition and success

The model, originally developed for Basel, is no longer only used there. The cantons of both Basels work closely together on matters of integration (joint integration law, internal cooperation). Other cantons are already working in part with the canton of Basel-Stadt, in particular on public relations. The cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt and Solothurn already operate a joint contact point in north-western Switzerland against discrimination and racism.

Even beyond this direct cooperation, the integration model is a role model in the whole of German-speaking Switzerland . Promoting and demanding flows into cantonal integration models and laws, and Thomas Kessler and Rebekka Ehret were also in contact with cities such as Frankfurt , Amsterdam and Mulhouse internationally . In general, the model finds a lot of support in politics: In addition to the red-green parties, which appear as representatives of this model, politicians from the center up to the FDP also support the model. In 2010, the canton of Bern adopted the Basel integration model by law, but omitted the controlling part, which was criticized by Kessler.

A representative of the “Analysis and Prevention” service of the Swiss intelligence services also praised the model, as integration is “the best and most useful instrument in the fight against fundamentalism ”. In connection with the 2014-2017 integration program, Eric Kaser, Head of Integration Funding at the Federal Office for Migration , described the Basel integration model as exemplary, as it had carried out a situation analysis and clarified the need for action. Therefore, this procedure is also adopted throughout Switzerland.

criticism

The SVP in particular appears to be a general critic of this model. As early as the spring of 2004, when the model was widely criticized after four homicides by foreigners and dual citizens, it already derived the failure of the model. Thomas Kessler and his team are also accused of glossing over the situation and looking at the problem from a subjective point of view. The President of SVP Basel once accused him of “do-gooding babble”. In an interview, Kessler found that he did not take such criticism seriously, because it was for political party reasons and was not really a criticism of his work.

The agreements with the migrants also sparked discussion. Right-wing representatives, mainly from the SVP , find that integration is a matter for foreigners and not for the state. Furthermore, at a panel discussion, Gerda Hauck, the former head of the City of Bern Coordination Office for Integration, criticized the fact that these agreements were actually a decree that migrants had to comply with. However, Kessler replied that no one refused education and the right to equal opportunities.

In 2009, the collection of promoting and demanding in focus was published. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse. Among other things, the thrust of the migration agreement is criticized in that it shifts the risk of migration onto migrants and stigmatizes them. This integration policy would put the question of socio-political structures that hinder integration into the background. Today's demands for integration have come closer in meaning to the concept of assimilation , instead of serving to break down barriers, for example in the labor and housing market, in the recognition of foreign diplomas, with the legal stipulation of the right to stay or the possibility of political participation. The fact that the model has a negative effect on reducing discrimination is also confirmed in a study on the Basel integration model from 2010. In the WOZ article on the book, the comparison to social policy is emphasized, in which there has also been a change from a «supplying, redistributing» to an «activating, enabling state»: Unemployment is understood as a personal guilt and the person concerned is visited by Committed to work programs for the unemployed. Another article in the book criticizes the fact that integration is measured too strongly by the acquisition of the respective national language. Rather, emphasis should be placed on anti-discrimination and equal opportunities policy. By emphasizing the language deficit of migrants, the approach of viewing migrants as potential has also moved into the background.

literature

  • Nicole Wichmann, Gianni D'Amato: Migration and Integration in Basel-Stadt . A "pioneering canton" under the microscope. SFM, Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies, Neuchâtel 2010, ISBN 978-2-940379-47-7 ( unine.ch [PDF]).
  • Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis (eds.): Focus on promoting and demanding. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse . Seismo Verlag, Zurich 2009, ISBN 978-3-03777-070-2 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Basel - Successful by promoting and challenging! In: Demography specifically online. Bertelsmann Foundation , January 2017, accessed on February 6, 2013 .
  2. ↑ Mission statement for integration ( Memento of the original dated August 16, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 259 kB), point 2.2, page 5  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch
  3. ↑ Interview with Jörg Schild, Government Councilor of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Every beginning is an encounter, accessed on March 14, 2009 .
  4. ↑ Basel Government Council - media release of September 10, 1999
  5. ↑ a b Media release “The integration model will be supplemented” by the Basel Government Council on April 25, 2012. Accessed on January 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ a b article “Many Germans move to Basel” , Badische Zeitung, June 29, 2013. Accessed December 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ Advice on the Integration Act to the Grand Council of the City of Basel ( Memento of the original of July 14, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 556 kB)  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch
  8. ↑ Administrative report 2007 from Integration Basel  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 8 kB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  9. ↑ Migration brings diversity - diversity creates strength. Supplement 2012 to the "Mission statement and action plan of the government council for the integration policy of the Canton of Basel-Stadt from 1999". (PDF; 909 kB) Archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on March 4, 2016 . Point 2, pages 4-6.
  10. ↑ Mission statement for integration (PDF; 909 kB), point 4, pages 12–22
  11. ↑ Article “Serious defeat for integration politicians in Basel” by Maurice Thiriet, Tages-Anzeiger, September 27, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  12. ↑ Administrative report from the Government Council BS 2002, page 184 (PDF; 1.1 MB)
  13. ↑ Thomas Kessler (guest commentary): "The greatest challenge is post-recording and integration". In: onlinereports.ch. Retrieved October 8, 2008 .
  14. ↑ New head of the Diversity and Integration department. Cantonal and urban development of Basel-Stadt, accessed on March 6, 2012 .
  15. ↑ Integration Basel - Mission Statement. (No longer available online.) Integration Basel, archived from the original on April 3, 2009 ; Retrieved October 8, 2008 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch
  16. ↑ Project description of integration agreements  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Point 6, page 8@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  17. ↑ Project description of integration agreements  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Point 4.1, page 6@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  18. ↑ Ordinance on the Basel Integration Act  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 36 kB), Article 7, paragraph 2a.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  19. ↑ Der Bund of September 19, 2007, page 21, article «Magic or Schwindel»  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 451 kB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  20. ↑ Gaby Ochsenbein: The integrator of the nation. In: swissinfo. April 29, 2007, accessed October 8, 2008 .
  21. ↑ a b c article «Basel SVP wants to force integration of foreigners by signature» by Moritz Keller. Basler Zeitung of December 17, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  22. ↑ Lukas Egli: Greetings four times. In: NZZ Folio . February 2, 2009.
  23. ↑ Law on the integration of the migrant population of the canton of Basel-Stadt  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 34 kB), Article 5, Paragraph 2@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  24. ^ Nicole Wichmann, Gianni D'Amato: Migration and Integration in Basel-Stadt . A "pioneering canton" under the microscope. SFM, Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies, Neuchâtel 2010, p. 9 .
  25. ↑ Integration Basel - project funding. Integration Basel, accessed on October 12, 2014 .
  26. ^ Website of Mediation Region Basel. Association Mediation Region Basel, accessed on October 8, 2008 .
  27. ↑ a b c Die Weltwoche, issue 46/01, article «The greatest praise comes from the police»
  28. ↑ Integration Basel - welcome in the quarter. Integration Basel, accessed on October 12, 2014 .
  29. ↑ Integration Basel - project “Every beginning is encounter” - The migration newspaper MIX. (No longer available online.) Integration Basel, archived from the original on April 3, 2009 ; Retrieved October 8, 2008 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch
  30. ↑ Program newspaper from October 2004 - Article «Enlightenment reading | 10 issues of migration newspaper »
  31. ↑ Interpellation No. 95 regarding "Documentary" Neuland "and ensuring contact IBK / Integration Basel" in the Grand Council BS of December 4, 2013 . Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  32. ↑ Contact point «Stop Racism» - About us. Contact point «Stop Racism», accessed on October 8, 2008 .
  33. ^ Hans-Rudolf Wicker: The new Swiss integration policy . In: Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis (eds.): Focus on promoting and demanding. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse . Seismo Verlag, Zurich 2009, p. 24 .
  34. ↑ Der Landbote from August 17, 2006, page 3, article "FDP for« Promote and Demand »"  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 245 kB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  35. ↑ The Federal Government of April 27, 2010, article «Canton Bern makes integration a duty»
  36. ^ Beat Stauffer: Basler Integrationpolitik: "Success story" with question marks. In: OnlineReports.ch. July 20, 2004, accessed October 8, 2008 .
  37. ↑ Beat Stauffer, Peter Knechtli and Ruedi Suter: "Mixing criminality with naturalization is a dubious tactic". In: OnlineReports.ch. December 19, 2001, accessed October 8, 2008 .
  38. ↑ IPILOT PROJECT TO INTRODUCE THE INTEGRATION AGREEMENT IN THE CANTON OF BASEL-STADT. (PDF; 261 kB) (No longer available online.) Vogt-Schild Gruppe, formerly in the original ; Retrieved October 8, 2008 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  39. ↑ Basel SVP wants to make migrants more accountable
  40. ↑ Berner Zeitung of September 20, 2007, article “New law gives to talk”  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 94 kB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.welcome-to-basel.bs.ch  
  41. ^ Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis: Introduction. Encourage and challenge revised. Seismographs on the current integration discourse. In: Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis (eds.): Focus on promoting and demanding. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse . Seismo Verlag, Zurich 2009, p. 9 .
  42. ^ Hans-Rudolf Wicker: The new Swiss integration policy . In: Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis (eds.): Focus on promoting and demanding. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse . Seismo Verlag, Zurich 2009, p. 42-43 .
  43. ^ Nicole Wichmann, Gianni D'Amato: Migration and Integration in Basel-Stadt . A "pioneering canton" under the microscope. SFM, Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies, Neuchâtel 2010, p. 11 .
  44. ^ Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis: Introduction. Encourage and challenge revised. Seismographs on the current integration discourse. In: Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis (eds.): Focus on promoting and demanding. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse . Seismo Verlag, Zurich 2009, p. 13 .
  45. ↑ Article “Future instead of origin” by Kaspar Surber, WOZ No. 46/2010 of November 18, 2010.
  46. ↑ Inés Matos: «Language as a key to integration» - a metaphor and its consequences . In: Esteban Piñeiro, Isabelle Bopp, Georg Kreis (eds.): Focus on promoting and demanding. Blank spaces in the Swiss integration discourse . Seismo Verlag, Zurich 2009, p. 119-121 .