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Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Authors: Tatiana Zakaurtseva, First Vice-Rector, Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Science (History)
Svetlana Gavrilova, research fellow, Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies, Institute of Contemporary Inter-
national Studies, Diplomatic Academy, Candidate of Science (History)
IN 2014-2016, a migration crisis loomed large in the dis-
cussions held by the European Commission (EC) and the
governments of the EU member states. Migration and its
consequences sparked a massive public outcry in Europe.
According to the polls carried out by the Standard Euro-
barometer back in 2013, the Europeans started to give
higher priority to migration problems than to issues such
as taxes, pensions, education, and even terrorism, and in
2015, the problem was already second on the list of their
priority concerns after unemployment.
EVEN LONG BEFORE an exacerbation of the migration crisis in 2015, it became obvious that
assimilating migrants on the basis of the "melting pot" model does not hold water for the simple
reason that the recipient societies are unable to "absorb" migrants, while the policy of multicultur-
alism entails a significant influence of ethnic communities on the prevailing cultural tradition. The
conception of multiculturalism has been gradually phased out by the "civil integration" practice,
which provides a certain level of social and economic rights to migrants on condition that a balance
is maintained between their rights and duties with respect to the recipient community.
The issues of socio-cultural and inter-confessional interaction of migrants with recipient commu-
nities stand out as the most complicated in the range of problems relating to migration policies and
require that some resolute steps be taken at the all-European and national levels. In each country,
migration policy is currently characterized by a number of specific features. However, general trends
have also surfaced: a part of political parties in Germany, Great Britain, and Denmark speak out in
favor of a possible inclusion of able-bodied skilled migrants in the economy. In Germany and
Britain, these ideas come under strong criticism from nationalist movements and right-wing move-
ments and parties, which traditionally adopt a tough Eurosceptic stance.
The present-day situation remains highly complicated: the European countries are facing a number
of serious challenges, which will require a few decades to be resolved. Some researchers believe that
"historically representatives of different civilizations would not so much confront each other as co-
operate within the framework of a multipolar world," and such a prospect still remains, if an intense
cooperation is launched and contacts at all levels are expanded between Christian and Muslim cul-
tures through the integration of migrants in the European society. However, the steps taken by the
EU and national governments are often just band-aid solutions unable to either satisfy the needs
of newcomers or appease the indigenous European population.
Cultural and Social Integration of Migrants in the European
Union