Review Symposium: Contested Citizenship: Immigration and Cultural Diversity in Europe

Review Symposium: Contested Citizenship: Immigration and Cultural Diversity in Europe

2008 | Ewald Engelen
Engelen reviews *Contested Citizenship: Immigration and Cultural Diversity in Europe* by Koopmans, Statham, Guigni, and Passy. He highlights the book's analysis of citizenship regimes and their impact on political activities of immigrant organizations, the extreme right, and pro-immigrant advocates. The authors use data from five European countries to construct a typology of citizenship regimes—segregationist, assimilationist, universalist, and multiculturalist. Engelen praises the book's empirical rigor and theoretical sophistication but notes its limitations. He argues that the book overlooks the socioeconomic aspects of integration and the role of labor market policies. He also criticizes the authors' claims about the negative effects of Dutch multiculturalism, suggesting they may be normative rather than empirical. Engelen further points out a causal fallacy in the book's argument that Dutch multicultural policies are solely responsible for the difficulties in integrating Islamic immigrants. He argues that successful integration is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, not just policy. Finally, he questions whether the book's focus on national newspapers adequately captures the broader public sphere, including local media and the internet. Overall, Engelen finds the book a significant contribution to the study of citizenship but notes its shortcomings in addressing the full complexity of integration.Engelen reviews *Contested Citizenship: Immigration and Cultural Diversity in Europe* by Koopmans, Statham, Guigni, and Passy. He highlights the book's analysis of citizenship regimes and their impact on political activities of immigrant organizations, the extreme right, and pro-immigrant advocates. The authors use data from five European countries to construct a typology of citizenship regimes—segregationist, assimilationist, universalist, and multiculturalist. Engelen praises the book's empirical rigor and theoretical sophistication but notes its limitations. He argues that the book overlooks the socioeconomic aspects of integration and the role of labor market policies. He also criticizes the authors' claims about the negative effects of Dutch multiculturalism, suggesting they may be normative rather than empirical. Engelen further points out a causal fallacy in the book's argument that Dutch multicultural policies are solely responsible for the difficulties in integrating Islamic immigrants. He argues that successful integration is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, not just policy. Finally, he questions whether the book's focus on national newspapers adequately captures the broader public sphere, including local media and the internet. Overall, Engelen finds the book a significant contribution to the study of citizenship but notes its shortcomings in addressing the full complexity of integration.
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