The changing scope of German citizenship: from 'guest worker' to citizen?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

According to figures from a 2005 German microcensus, 15 million of Germany’s current population of 82 million have ‘migration backgrounds’; that is, they are immigrants or have parents or grandparents who came to Germany from elsewhere. Despite these figures, the stance ‘Deutschland ist kein Einwanderungsland’ (‘Germany is not a country of immigration’) has been prevalent in political discourse and the legislation regarding immigration and citizenship assisted in upholding this image. Over the last decade, there has been a major shift in German citizenship law. Up to 2000, Germany was one of the few European countries to base its citizenship laws primarily on Ius Sanguinis, the right to obtain citizenship on the basis of descent, rather than place of birth (Ius Soli).
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFrom migrant to citizen
Subtitle of host publicationtesting language, testing culture
EditorsChristina Slade, Martina Möllering
Place of PublicationHampshire, UK; New York
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages145-163
Number of pages19
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9780230281400
ISBN (Print)9780230576339
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Publication series

NameLanguage and Globalization
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan UK

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