Solutions

Solving the cultural problems requires a willingness to listen to one another and to co-operate (no monism, no relativism), more specifically acculturation (adaptation to as well as changes of the dominant culture), socialisation (of groups and individuals) and internalisation (from values to practices). The process has to work both ways, not only to prevent resentment but also realise the enriching contribution at all levels, from society to individual (if we are open to it).

At the same time socio-economic problems need to be addressed, particularly in fields like education, housing and the labour market. They may be the result of subconscious biases (from perception through stereotypes to discrimination and racism) but are very real and harmful in everyday life. In countries in which the rule of law applies citizens are equal in the eye of the law and should have the same rights, opportunities and entitlements. This includes social mobility.

If the Netherlands now says to be an ‘immigration country’, then it has to do what every migration country does, i.e. to emphasise the transfer of language, historical understanding and the legal culture. In the times of pillarization exactly those sources of cohesion prevented the degeneration of cultural differences into conflicts.

Paul Scheffer, NRC (Dutch newspaper), March 25th 2000

This does not mean that cultures should convergence; on the contrary, everyone can keep their habits and traditions, but why not maybe develop common rules and standards? (…) This would be something like the lingua franca but a cultura franca and we would have to learn only these rules rather than trying to accommodate all different cultures and in the end acquire mild forms of schizophrenia. We will be just us communicating to the others, as if we were naked. Let us put all cultures in a melting pot and melt them to a culture of “naked people” - a new culture of equals, of persons, individuals who are in the centre of communication, and not their “clothes” - cultures.

student at Maastricht Univeristy