h Nacht und rüzgar?Es m Kind;Er hat den KnaEr faßt ihn sicher, er hält was birgst du so bang Vater, du den Erlkönig mit Kron und Schweif? ebelstreif.Du belki Kind, Gar schöne Spiele spiel’ Blumen sind an dem plaj, west, in Salzburg, some locals fear that the problems of eastern Austria and Germany will soon become significant in the western regions as well. In smaller Alpine towns, the debate over the building of mosques has become consistently heated as citizens resent the loss of their traditional image. In both countries, schools have become more and more non-German, pressing local parents to send their children to costly private schools instead. Local governments are, furthermore, pressing for legislation which would ban the building of mosques and minarets in towns and cities. Germany also faces a growing wave of fear as many eastern Muslim youths living there become sympathetic to radical Islamic causes, increasing violent fundamentalism within German immigrant populations.2 Unfortunately for many migrants, those who say that over-immigration is a pressing problem have statistics on their side. In 2007, Austria accepted almost 100,000 immigrants, adding to the over 400,000 already living in Vienna and the roughly sixteen percent of the overall population that comes from a foreign background (as opposed to ten percent in 2002).3 According to a French study, over fifteen percent of students in Austrian schools in the 2002-2003 academic term were non-natives. Germany is home to more than 9.5 million non-citizens, with the most represented groups being Turks, Italians, Yugoslavians, Greeks, and Poles.4 It also houses the third-largest Muslim population in Europe (exceeded only by France and the Netherlands).5 In 2007, Muslim religious groups revealed plans for 184 new mosques to be added to the over 1,200 buildings already being used for Muslim religious worship in Germany.6 However, while statistics may point to a rising foreign influence, what about the immigrants themselves? Why are so many foreign nationals leaving their homelands for new lives in the West? Much of their motivation lies in the desire for a better life, and Austria is a natural choice for many because of its historical status as the border between Eastern and Western Europe. Vienna itself is seen as a crossroads: a common stopping point for those migrating from the East. Austria’s less-strict immigration policies, which have always focused on asylum and temporary protection, are a major draw, and both Austria and Germany have recently been required to adopt the open borders of the EU.7 In addition, Austria’s status as a neutral nation makes it an appealing destination for many migrants. Immigrants also find ready employment in fields in which native Austrians are unwilling to work, such as in-house caretaking and maid-service, where they can be paid under the table and avoid state taxes. Of course, those who manage to become citizens of their adoptive nations can reap the labor and social benefits of being members of the EU, especially the ability to travel freely and legally among EU member nations.8 As foreign nationals become more established within Austria and Germany, there arises the growing problem of identity among first and second generation immigrants. While many of these children and young adults identify more with the Germanic culture of their new homes, they still have to face the prejudice of those who only see their foreign appearance or hear their different tongues. In 2003, the University of Vienna’s psychology department performed a study on immigrants in Austrian schools. In addition to finding that only fifty-seven percent of students in the seventh and eighth grade classes studied were native Austrians, they observed that foreign students, particularly those originating from Turkey, faced significant social problems such as bullying and a lack of friends and peer interaction.9 As vast numbers of immigrants continue to migrate to central Europe, these trends will likely increase over the next several years. It is important, however, to realize that the culture clash extends far beyond the level of schools and villages. Much of the bias against the integration of Eastern European nations into the EU stems from the problems Westerners encounter in their own countries. A prime example is that of Turkey, whose petitions for EU membership have been received with antagonism from those who resent the increasing Eastern and Muslim influence within their home countries. This opposition only adds to the many additional hurdles Turkey faces in terms of minority rights, trade, and political instability, all of which stand in the way of its acceptance into the EU. It does not help that membership would give Turkish citizens the ability to travel freely among other EU nations, resulting in an increase in migration towards the West, and, as a result, more hostility from Western nations.10 Regardless of which side may be right, it is impossible to deny the existence of a growing immigration problem within Austria and Germany. To foreign migrants, the problem arrives in the form of discrimination, repression, and political difficulties in their native countries; for locals, it signifies a threat to traditional culture, religion, and way of life. Either way, the question of migrants and their place in society is significant. While the United States may face similar issues in that it has become home to a rap- idly budding foreign population, Americans should consider themselves lucky to have avoided the extreme division that Austria and Germany now experience. Over time, the United States needs to keep an eye on such situations—it might just find a solution to its own dilemmas. 14 1 “Austria to limit building of mosques.” Cranmer. 2007. 22 Sept. 2008 . 2 “Study Shows Integration Problems Among Germany’s Muslims.” Deutsche Welle. 2008. 22 Sept. 2008 . 3 “International Migration to and from Austria by Citizenship 1961 bis 2007.” Statistics Austria. 2008. 22 Sept. 2008 . 4 Haug, Sonja. “Migration Trends from Central and Eastern Europe to Germany.” Princeton University. 22 Sept. 2008 < http://iussp2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=50337>. 5 Leiken, Robert S. “Europe’s Angry Muslims.” Foreign Affairs. 2002-2008. 22 Sept. 2008 . 6 “Islamic Group Plans to Double Number of Mosques in Germany.” Deutsche Welle. 2008. 22 Sept. 22 . 7 Jandl, Michael, and Albert Kraler. “Austria” A Country of Immigration?” Migration Information Source. 2003. 4 Oct. 2008 < http://www.migrationinformation.org/ Profiles/display.cfm?ID=105. 8 Münz, Rainer. “East-West Migration after European Union Enlargement.” Austrian Press and Information Ser vice. 2007. 22 Sept. 2008 . 9 Strohlmeier, Dagmar. “Immigrant Children in Austria: Aggressive Behavior and Friendship Patterns in Multicultural School Classes.” Journal of Applied School Psychology. 19.2 (2003). 22 Sept. 2008 . 10 Kirisci, Kemal. “Turkey: A Transformation from Emigration to Immigration.” Migration Information Source. 2003. 22 Sept. 2008 . nch gülden Gewand photo by Motg Fall 2008