There is much handwringing in Germany – and indeed in Europe – about the low birth statistics that have fueled the massive migration of muslims. While some US neocons welcome this development, many Europeans deplore it. In his new book Cardinal Ratzinger expresses his dismay at the islamic "transplants" that are undermining Europe’s Christian heritage. But blogger Joseph Britt has a plan that could change the cultural landscape:
All I’m suggesting is a new political party with a platform for making
Europe more like the United States. It could campaign, for example, to
change business regulations like these
in Germany. It could urge a program to facilitate immigration from
mostly Catholic Latin America, to ease concerns over a flood of
immigrants from the mostly Muslim Middle East. This new party could
even put forth candidates committed to cutting spending on dopey
government programs aimed at fighting the spread of English,
subsidizing boring movies and giving handouts to idle farmers. We could
use some candidates interested in cutting government spending in this
country, too, but let’s not get off the subject.
Interesting idea, but would Catholic Venezuelans and Brazilians assimilate easier into German society? Istanbul seems far more "European" than Caracas or Sao Paolo.
But even the influx of latinos into Germany and France cannot stop the inexorable rise of the Anglosphere, according to James C. Bennett in his important new book The Anglosphere Challenge: Why the English-Speaking Nations Will Lead the Way in the Twenty-First Century . Bennett declares the concept of the West to be dead, as evidenced by the growing chasm between the US and Europe. Instead, he envisions an English-speaking "network commonwealth" – led by the United States, the United Kingdon and Australia. The Anglosphere is held together by shared values, such as individualism, the rule of law, the honoring of convenants and an emphasis on freedom. Whether the concept of the West is obsolete is open to debate. Do citizens of the UK feel a closer affinity to the US or to the continent? My guess is that the answer is very different today in 2005 than it was just five years ago. The realization of Bennett’s vision depends largely on the success or falilure of the experiment known as the European Union.
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David
What is the connection between low birth rates and muslim migration? I truly hope that most moderates in American (even conservative ones) don’t really “wait with glee” for the implosion of Europe.
I also don’t agree with the notion that Muslim migration could undermine European Christian Heritage. I suppose the Europeans have done that themselves over the last couple of generations. We went on a “heritage -tracing” (planning another in the fall) trip to Germany last year. We were mostly in small villages, and even there, it seemed as though the churches were largely empty. I don’t think this has anything to do with Muslim immigration.
I think it is also true that most in the US don’t see the European Union as a united, and common economic system. There are too many differences in the various European cultures to make it possible for them all to belong to the same economy. Whereas the States in the US really do belong to same basic economy (in spite of certain red and blue state divides).
PS. I am very interested in Germany, so I REALLY enjoy your site. Your efforts are most appreciated.
Well, that Ratzinger is a fool clearly shows when he says he needs candidates interested in cutting government spending in germany. As I´ve said, what you need is a strong domestic market. If you can help that by government spending, do so.
And you don´t have to be afraid of to much debt. Germans trade balance is positiv (unlike that of the US). So you really need not to worry. See it that way: Most companies use more capital from the outside than they have of their own to invest into machines. There is no reason why the state shouldnß´t be able to do that as well.
Kuch,
I don’t think David or anyone else sees a cause-and-effect relationship between low European birthrates and Muslim immigration. Rather, many Europeans see these as parallel if not entirely related developments. They worry that their granddaughters will one day wear an Islamic veil if the number of Christian European keeps shrinking and the number of Muslims continues to increase.
Also, I disagree with your view that European economies are not now part of a common system. On the contrary, economic integration is the one thing at which the European Union has succeeded beyond the shadow of a doubt. In fact, critics of EU expansion worry about its “democratic deficit” as the powers of the European Parliament have failed to match the impressive growth of the union’s economic might. The said critics believe that the union’s destinies are being led by economic elites and that the people have very little say into just how much integration should be allowed.
Robert
I hoped that there was not a notion that there is a cause and effect relationship between birth rates and muslim migration, but thought I should verify, based upon the direct quote “There is much handwringing in Germany – and indeed in Europe – about the low birth statistics that have fueled the massive migration of muslims.”
The number of American Christians seems to be growing, and is not impacted by muslim immigration. We, on the other side of the Atlantic, would just caution against scapegoating immigrants for the decline in European Christianity.
I’m not aware of a lot of specific information about the economic integration of the EU. However, when you have the eurozone economies growing at 1 percent or less, and it largest members maintaining very high unemployment, I don’t know how this can be called a success beyond a shadow of a doubt. “As the powers of the European Parliament have failed to match the impressive growth of the union’s economic might.” -What impressive growth are you referring to? The overall economy of the EU may be growing, but is it not only based upon expansion of the EU, and not real economic growth?
We would also wonder if the lack of unity we have seen on some foriegn-relations issues is also present in economic ones. For instance, is the EU for, or against the China arms embargo? There does not seem to be a common approach. Also, is Ireland, who has a growing economy going to be bullied into a EU approach that is dictated to it by the “economic elites” (France and Germnay), with their larger, but perhaps unhealthy economies?
Migration in Europe does not take place as a economically controlled process but by granted rights of so called because of “human issues” and/or “liberal attitude”– as you can see with Mr Fischer and his problems right now. Other countries (US, Australia..) having – at least partly – strong economic criteria for immigration leaves us the weak guys, who do not expect to make the big money – otherwise they will go to the US. Resulting, none criteria does not get the average immigrant, but the uneducated.
In addition: no or weak immigration programme leads to excluded migration communities, different value systems, own home grown justice with mediaeval law.
Weak economic development, growing youth unemployment and increasing aggressions among Muslim youth by Imams’ propaganda – like in France – are challenging Western European societies with – of course more economically homogeneous vision unlike the US.
This is the challenge of Germany, France and Netherlands, and migration societies relying on the welfare system more than the other parts of the society will not be the solution of low birth rate triggered problems but still increasing them.