The Migration MatterHighlights of the Dutch national debate during the last decade

Important general facts

• History as international trading country• After WW-II: high welfare and lots of jobs =>

migrants were asked to do our ‘dirty’ jobs• In 1960’s and 2003-2008: emigration surplus• Influence increasing population because of

migration is 22% (compare: in EU this is 81%)

• Current population of Netherlands: 16.4 million– 3.2 million with non-Dutch background (= 19,6%)

• 1.8 million non-western (10,8% of total population)

Pim Fortuyn(1948 – 2002)

• View on migration:“Immigrants who are already in our country stay in our country. But then it should be finished. (…) We have to realise that most immigrants in our country will be the social underclass. We don’t like that. I think we have to stop this.”

• Called “extreme right wing” by his opponents and labelled as “far-right populist” in the (international) media

• Question: is this populism or pragmatism?

The way to the elections of 2002

Theo van Gogh(1957 – 2004)

• Film director• Worked with Somalia-born

politician/writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali) of Submission

• Last film he completed, 06/05, is a fictional version of the assassination of Pim Fortuyn

CENSURED

‘Submission’ and its consequences

Main characters of todays debate

Main thoughts and key words

– Immigrants are social-economic underpriviliged – “The Netherlands are full busy (maybe too busy?)”– Netherlands belongs to Dutch, so close boarders– Western citizens versus non-western persons (read:

former Eastern Europe / Africa and special critical attention for muslims)

• Two groups dominate actual debate: nationalists versus cosmopolitans