Nerd Alert = Post about Sociology

For those who might be at all interested I’m going to do a post about what I’ve been studying while I’m over here. If you don’t read it…I will not at all be offended. It’s mostly for my parents/similarly minded nerd friends.

PREFACE: Danish academia does not have the focus American academia does of being polite or “politically correct”. They tell it how it is and the situation with integration in Denmark is far from perfect. This post is not meant to be my opinion on the situation or paint the situation in any particular light. Merely to give a better picture of what it is I am studying to my friends and family so if you read this and find yourself bubbling over with anger at my interpretation of the information--keep it to yourself. Haters gonna hate…potatoes gonna potate…I don’t want to hear any negativity. J (I mean this in the nicest most polite and politically correct American way)

The first half of the semester my core course, titled “Cultural Diversity and Social Capital” focused on issues with Muslims and integration in Denmark and the second half on Turkey and issues with integration amongst the Kurds, Christian/Jewish minorities, and other IDPs (Internationally Displaced Peoples). This second section we have just started so I will do another post with more info on that once I get back from Istanbul next week J

Integration in Denmark--Background Info = post WWII reconstruction, Scandinavia saw a huge influx of Middle Eastern guest workers, meant to come rebuild some roads and go home, of course many of these guest workers ended up settling, emigrating to Denmark, Sweden, etc. and later bringing their families. So a culturally and ethnically homogenous country (and has been for 1000s of years) is now confronted with the reality they are now the home to thousands of Muslim immigrants. Their ability to integrate these minorities into Danish society has been a bit of a struggle. Basically Denmark upholds high values of equal opportunity and social services for all citizens as seen in their welfare state with free healthcare, education, etc. The Danish pay high high taxes (50-60%) in order to provide these social services and thus can be a little xenophobic (very understandably) when it comes to others coming into the country and benefiting from these services for which they pay half their income to provide. Danish culture is also of fundamental importance and the high focus placed on gender equality and secularization isn’t always compatible with conservative Islam.

This puts Denmark in a bind, if a country that preaches tolerance (which they are very much so of the minorities having lived in Denmark a long time, also providing extensive foreign aid, etc.) is tolerant of Islamic social practices such as arranged marriage, oppression of women (or liberation depending on how you view it) through wearing of the hijab and niqab etc., does that make Denmark intolerant by proxy?

That being said, the Danes have recently included some interesting topics in political discourse suggesting a desire exclude Muslims/religious minorities from the political scene. Discussing gender equality, a ban on male circumcision, and increasing protective laws making it harder to emigrate to Scandinavia. Even the far far right political party the Danish People’s Party (who have campaign videos that blatantly preach how Muslims are living off the welfare state, damaging to Danish society, and the country needs to put a stop to Muslim integration, etc) have banners saying “TOLERANCE” in big ‘ol letters on the platform that they are tolerant of all, and if Muslims are intolerant of ________ (women, equal job opportunities, drinking, fashion, whatever), then Denmark would be intolerant and this is something that cannot happen.

A very very interesting (at least to me) situation. Both sides have legitimate points. The Danes that they have a very successful secular welfare state and that inhabitants of their country should contribute to the community and common good as everyone else does. For the Danes it is not freedom OF but freedom FROM religion, they thrive in their secular sphere and do well in this religiously low state. But Danish Muslims are then forced to either a) abandon their culture assuming a Danish one or b) be ostracized from social circles for their incapability of being secular, “tolerant”, or effectively their inability to be Danish--and this is quite a bind.

Statistics show that integration is improving in Denmark. There is constant talk of ways in which the situation can be improved, government initiatives, cultural education of youth and parents on Islam, etc. I have interviewed many Danes (both ethnic Danes and Danish Muslims) on the subject and there is little xenophobia and prejudice among most Copenhageners (a lot of the Danish People’s Party resides in Jutland), and even less among my generation. The future is very hopeful and bright but fascinating especially effectively being an immigrant myself (I guess I am 6^th/7^th generation Slovenian/German American--I don’t even know for sure--Granmom Phyllis any input on this front?) and coming from a country of immigrants, not that the United States is necessarily a model for world integration, but we have been doing it a little longer (We’ll give ya that ‘murica!)

So this is what I am learning/thinking about eating/breathing while I have been here. I find the entire situation incredibly fascinating and I'm really excited to bring this information and ideas back to Rhodes in the spring!!


I hope this didn’t bore you to tears, I already know which of my family/friends will probably read this post so I hope y’all enjoy it!

NEXT WEEK (leaving in 4 days) = ISTANBUL. I can hardly wait!!