Immigration and Integration in North America: Canadian and Austrian Perspectives


Book Description

Der deutsch- und englischsprachige Band enthält neun Essays von bekannten KanadistInnen aus Österreich, Deutschland und Kanada, die sich mit Immigration nach und Integration in Nordamerika beschäftigen: Wie wird dieses aktuelle Problem in Kanada bewältigt? Könnte das offiziell multikulturelle Kanada für Länder wie Österreich und Frankreich ein Muster sein? Neben der gelungenen Integration, die sich in Romanen von selbst nach Kanada eingewanderten ErzählerInnen spiegelt, belegen ethnische Autobiographien die früher auch in Kanada häufigen Probleme. Das Spannungsverhältnis beim transkulturellen Übergang erscheint als mögliche Inspirationsquelle, wobei Schriftsteller aus der Karibik ergiebige Untersuchungsobjekte sind. Die Einwanderung aus Österreich kommt ebenso zur Sprache wie die spezifische Auseinandersetzung mit der Immigration in Quebec, wo das Konzept des Interkulturalismus dominiert, sowie das Schicksal von Millionen illegaler Einwanderer in den USA. The volume comprises nine essays by prominent Canadianists from Austria, Germany and Canada who investigate in comparative fashion the problems of emigration / immigration to and integration in North America and some European countries, especially Austria and France. They inquire how this challenge has been met in Canada since the official adoption of multiculturalism and reflect on the possibility of Canada serving as a model for Europe. While contemporary novels by immigrants to Canada provide evidence of successful integration, ethnic autobiographies remind us of the existence of problems and prejudices in former times. The tensions experienced in the course of a transcultural transfer are shown to be a potential source of inspiration, with authors of Caribbean background providing fruitful examples. The waves of immigration from Austria are also described as is the specific approach to the challenge of immigration in the province of Quebec, through the adoption of the concept of interculturalism. Both the problems linked to immigration in France and the issue of the millions of undocumented immigrants from Latin America in the USA are considered.




International Perspectives


Book Description

The international trend towards migration is growing rapidly and becoming increasingly complex. As the first-wave generation of migrants ages, their children and even grandchildren are reaching adulthood having spent their entire lives in the countries their families chose long ago. International Perspectives: Integration and Inclusion is a wide-ranging exploration of this new, global reality. While many countries have been, and remain, resistant to migration, the sheer volume of people moving from one country to another is forcing public policy and perceptions to change. Migrant inclusion and integration, however, remains an issue in many locales. Insightful and timely, this volume brings together contributions from various countries and levels of the migrant experience in order to consider the ways in which states can facilitate the integration and inclusion of newcomers and minorities.




Citizenship and Belonging in France and North America


Book Description

The first decades of the new millennium have been marked by major political changes. Although The West has wished to revisit internal and international politics concerning migration policies, refugee status, integration, secularism, and the dismantling of communitarianism, events like the Syrian refugee crisis, the terrorist attacks in France in 2015-2016, and the economic crisis of 2008 have resurrected concepts such as national identity, integration, citizenship and re-shaping state policies in many developed countries. In France and Canada, more recent public elections have brought complex democratic political figures like Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau to the public eye. Both leaders were elected based on their promising political agendas that aimed at bringing their countries into the new millennium; Trudeau promotes multiculturalism, while Macron touts the diverse nation and the inclusion of diverse ethnic communities to the national model. This edited collection aims to establish a dialogue between these two countries and across disciplines in search of such discursive illustrations and opposing discourses. Analyzing the cultural and political tensions between minority groups and the state in light of political events that question ideas of citizenship and belonging to a multicultural nation, the chapters in this volume serve as a testimonial to the multiple views on the political and public perception of multicultural practices and their national and international applicability to our current geopolitical context.




Strangers No More


Book Description

"This brilliant book, by two of the most eminent scholars of immigration, compares the integration of immigrants on both sides of the Atlantic. Alba and Foner provide a cogent account of the history, sociology, economics, and politics of immigrant integration, and challenge many things we thought we knew about the subject. This is a tour de force."--Mary C. Waters, Harvard University "Integration is not just about the desires of immigrants or availability of jobs--it is fundamentally about institutions and policies that shape incorporation. In this deft tour de force exploring six countries and multiple areas of life, Strangers No More reveals that simple narratives of integration break down in the face of complex institutional arrangements. A must-read for students and scholars alike."--Irene Bloemraad, University of California, Berkeley "Although all developed nations have become countries of immigration, prior studies have only analyzed immigrant assimilation on a country-by-country basis. Strangers No More undertakes the first comprehensive look at immigrant integration in six diverse nations. Revealing broad similarities and stark differences in the forces that shape immigrant outcomes, this book is essential reading for all students of international migration in the world today."--Douglas S. Massey, coauthor of Climbing Mount Laurel "In many societies throughout the world, immigrants and their descendants are growing to become the lion's share of the population. How have diverse immigrant groups and their subsequent generations fared in this transition? Alba and Foner offer no simple answers, but rather show complex relations of contextual factors, processes, and outcomes. Looking at six nations on both sides of the Atlantic, this comparative work is a masterly exploration."--Steven Vertovec, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity "With its unique scope, this excellent book is a must-read for anybody interested in immigration. It deals with two continents, various immigrant groups, and many fields of inclusion. There is no other book like it."--Jan Willem Duyvendak, University of Amsterdam "This accessible and ambitious book thoughtfully compares the experiences and outcomes for immigrants in six host countries--Canada, France, Germany, Britain, Netherlands, and the United States. Exploring how national and local policies impact the reception and lives of immigrants, the authors demonstrate that no country has all the answers when it comes to immigration. This work fills a real gap in the literature and will have an impact."--Caroline B. Brettell, Southern Methodist University




Black Identities


Book Description

The story of West Indian immigrants to the United States is generally considered to be a great success. Mary Waters, however, tells a very different story. She finds that the values that gain first-generation immigrants initial success--a willingness to work hard, a lack of attention to racism, a desire for education, an incentive to save--are undermined by the realities of life and race relations in the United States. Contrary to long-held beliefs, Waters finds, those who resist Americanization are most likely to succeed economically, especially in the second generation.




Korean Immigrants in Canada


Book Description

Koreans are one of the fastest-growing visible minority groups in Canada today. However, very few studies of their experiences in Canada or their paths of integration are available to public and academic communities. Korean Immigrants in Canada provides the first scholarly collection of papers on Korean immigrants and their offspring from interdisciplinary, social scientific perspectives. The contributors explore the historical, psychological, social, and economic dimensions of Korean migration, settlement, and integration across the country. A variety of important topics are covered, including the demographic profile of Korean-Canadians, immigrant entrepreneurship, mental health and stress, elder care, language maintenance, and the experiences of students and the second generation. Readers will find interconnecting themes and synthesized findings throughout the chapters. Most importantly, this collection serves as a platform for future research on Koreans in Canada.




Immigrant Experiences in North America


Book Description

Immigration, settlement, and integration are vital issues in the twenty-first century—they propel economic development, transform cities and towns, shape political debate, and challenge established national identities. This original collection provides the first comprehensive introduction to the contemporary immigrant experience in both the United States and Canada by exploring national, regional, and metropolitan contexts. With essays by an interdisciplinary team of American and Canadian scholars, this volume explores major themes such as immigration policy; labour markets and the economy; gender; demographic and settlement patterns; health, well-being, and food security; education; and media. Each chapter includes instructive case examples, recommended further readings, links to web-based resources, and questions for critical thought. Engaging and accessible, Immigrant Experiences in North America will appeal to students and instructors across the social sciences, including geography, political science, sociology, policy studies, and urban and regional planning.




Quiet Invaders Revisited


Book Description

Österreichische Einwanderung in die USA Die vorliegende Publikation beleuchtet das Thema der Migration von Österreichern in die USA genauer, das bis heute ein immer noch sehr unerforschtes Gebiet ist. Seit kurzer Zeit erlebt die Forschung allerdings einen neuen Aufschwung, es herrscht großes Interesse vor allem in der Biografieforschung. Die vorliegenden Beiträge basieren auf einer Tagung, die im Juni 2015 in Wien zum gleichnamigen Thema stattgefunden hat. Es handelt sich hauptsächlich um Fallstudien über emigrierte Österreicher, die ihre Heimat aus wirtschaftlichen, politischen oder karrieretechnischen Gründen verlassen haben. Alle mussten sich mit einer schwierigen Einwanderungspolitik der USA auseinandersetzen, trotzdem ist den meisten von ihnen eine erfolgreiche Integration in die amerikanische Gesellschaft gelungen. ************************************************************************************** The essays in this book argue that the United States served as a great attraction for economic betterment to Austrian migrants before and World War I; yet a third of these migrants actually remigrated. Remigration was less likely after World War I as the economic situation deteriorated in Europe and the political situation landscape became desperate for Jews and the opponents of the Hitler regime. Most of the Austrians migrating to the U.S. in the World War II era stayed. For the roughly 30,000 Jews who had been brutally kicked out of their homes after the "Anschluss" and managed to snag immigration papers to the U.S., returning to desperately poor and still anti-Semitic Austria was not an option. These case studies show that integrating and assimilating into the American mainstream often was a difficult process that might take two generations. Many of the intellectuals and academics never fully felt at home in the U.S. as they viewed American culture shallow and American values too materialistic.




forum for inter-american research Vol 6


Book Description

Volume 6 of 6 of the complete premium print version of journal forum for inter-american research (fiar), which is the official electronic journal of the International Association of Inter-American Studies (IAS). fiar was established by the American Studies Program at Bielefeld University in 2008. We foster a dialogic and interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Americas. fiar is a peer-reviewed online journal. Articles in this journal undergo a double-blind review process and are published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.




The Routledge Introduction to the Canadian Short Story


Book Description

This volume aims to introduce undergraduates, graduates, and general readers to the diversity and richness of Canadian short story writing and to the narrative potential of short fiction in general. Addressing a wide spectrum of forms and themes, the book will familiarise readers with the development and cultural significance of Canadian short fiction from the early 19th century to the present. A strong focus will be on the rich reservoir of short fiction produced in the past four decades and the way in which it has responded to the anxieties and crises of our time. Drawing on current critical debates, each chapter will highlight the interrelations between Canadian short fiction and historical and socio-cultural developments. Case studies will zoom in on specific thematic or aesthetic issues in an exemplary manner. The Routledge Introduction to the Canadian Short Story will provide an accessible and comprehensive overview ideal for students and general readers interested in the multifaceted and thriving medium of the short story in Canada.