Challenges in Migrant Integration in the Czech Republic: Diversity Concept vs. Practice

Czech Republic faces challenges in integrating migrants due to its historical legacy of ethnic homogeneity, necessitating a redefinition of societal self-image and implementation of clear integration policies to foster long-term cohabitation and cultural diversity. The need for transparent criteria, cohesive values, and efficient tools for structural and civic integration of both Czechs and migrants is emphasized.

• Migrant Integration
• Czech Republic
• Diversity
• Integration Challenges
• Cultural Coexistence

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1. Current Challenges in the Integration of Migrants in the Czech Republic: Diversity as Concept, or Practice? Mgr. Blanka Tollarov , PhD. Dept. of Management and Supervision, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University 23| 5 | 2016

2. Ambiguous Legacy of Czech History: Ethnic Homogeneity Current Challenge = Integration, Heterogeneity, Diversity X Constant Legitimization of Ethnic Homogenenity CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

3. Ambiguous Legacy of Czech History: Ethnic Homogeneity Ethnic Homogeneity How it Came About? Strong narrative of the Czech National Revival Movement the War between the Czechs and the Germans Expulsion of Germans after World War II Long-term marginalization of the Roma Very specific position of very small amount of migrants during the communist era total control in almost all aspects of their life => homogeneity is a norm, the other people are not integrated and preferably live under control, their status is not comparable to that of majority CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

4. Current Challenge: Integration and Diversity Integration into the EU open borders and migration to and from the Czech Republic => to find a way to redefine the self-image of Czech society to enable long- term cohabitation of the majority with the migrants => a clear integration policy should define long-term, well-conceived and managed approach to migration and integration issues establish transparent and realistic criteria for entry and residence of migrants define Czech society as cohesive, friendly and ready for cultural diversity clearly define the core values of our society and give migrants and Czech citizens a clear idea of the conditions and opportunities of mutual coexistence systematically create and support efficient tools for the structural and civic integration of the entire population - both Czechs and migrants CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

5. Integration of Foreigners (Migrants): Brief History 1989 Fundamental change of the social system; opening of borders resulting in stronger and more diversified migration flows 1990s Integration of foreigners administered by the Ministry of the Interior Relations among communities (no integration concept) 1999 Integration of foreigners becomes a part of the government s policy Foreigners Integration Concept Programme for Refugees Integration 2004 Responsibility for the implementation and coordination of the Foreigners Integration Concept transferred to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs 2008 Responsibility for the Foreigners Integration Concept transferred back to the Ministry of the Interior Since 2015 lobbying for involving of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to the integration of migrants => attempts to divide residence permissions, security issues and border protection agenda from the integration agenda CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

6. Key Differences Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs: integration tools Ministry of the Interior: Protection and Security the migration and integration of migrants are perceived as a technical and one-dimensional security problem strategies leading to exclusion or marginalization of the migrants no specific strategies to work with the majority public and professionals building and developing cohesive society whose members have access to common resources (legal residence, work, access to health insurance, learning Czech language...) and their access to the resources is protected (combating labour exploitation, promotion of legality of stay, availability of educational activities and information) building the intercultural capacity of all the citizens of the Czech Republic migrants and majority trying to reduce fear of the members of majority by creating clear and understandable integration system for all CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

7. Migration Trends in 2015 Approx. 460 000 of legally residing migrants (260 000 with permanent residence permit) 1 500 asylum applications 470 people granted some form of international protection Refugees from Syria effectively discouraged from entering the country in summer 2015 => only a few refugees kept in detention centres for migrants => stable situation with traditional migrants from Ukraine and Vietnam => migrants = 4,5 % of total population => third country nationals = 2,6 % of total population CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

8. Migrants in the Czech Republic 467 562 migrants (31/12/2015) Ukraine 105 153 long-term stay + visas: 206 009 persons others 125 017 permanent residence: 261 553 persons Poland 19 738 Germany 20 315 Slovakia 100 241 Russia 34 757 Vietnam 56 659 CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

9. Current Integration Issues - Migrants disadvantaged position of some groups of immigrants in Czech society weak structural integration labour market position - labour rights violations, structural exclusion access to social protection - the absence of relevant support of the elderly that are not entitled to receive a pension, restricted access for migrants with a long-term permit to public health insurance language barrier spoken language, information only in Czech insufficient socio-cultural orientation, limited access to local institutions, social barriers (expatriate networks) conflicts on the local level - the rise of hostile sentiments in places of higher concentrations of migrants CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

10. Current Integration Issues - Majority rise of xenophobia and fear of migrants caused by exaggeration of the refugee crisis in the media almost zero refugees from Syria in the Czech Republic people are still alarmed, hostile response Czech politicians refuse to cooperate with EU in the refugee crisis some Czech politicians explicitly support the anti-refugee moods the anti-refugee attitudes could affect all the (non-European) migrants lack of supporting tools for professional groups working with migrants teachers no or not centrally distributed guides for teachers, for the parents of students on different levels of educational system, no systematic and available language support for the students nurses and GPs low intercultural competence only slowly developing system of community interpreting CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

11. Current Integration Issues Government no defined goals of the integration process, no systematic monitoring system frequent uncertainties within the integration system the integration is not managed; it is coordinated or happens in the system of central and regional projects (funded by EU funds) problems with discontinuity of funding, problems with coverage, problems with sustainability of integration measures the system is confusing not only for immigrants but also for all system actors: municipalities, education and other public institutions, employers, etc. very few practical tools for the integration little support in the inclusion of migrant school children and of teaching of Czech as a foreign language; insufficient or no tools for healthcare workers or civil servants lack of relevant data and analysis, including a lack of systematic evaluation of integration measures on the level of programs and projects CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

12. Effects on Diversity the Czech society is perceived as homogeneous therefore, it is a major challenge to try to think Czech society as one that is diversified, pluralistic, and yet coherent Diversity could be one of the goals of the integration process Theoretically, the integration documents are based on the statements on cultivation of the relationships between the majority and the migrants, on increasing respect and mutual understanding of the differences or combating all forms of discrimination The documents are ultimately aimed at promoting diversity. CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

13. Effects on Diversity In practice, however, such measures are not taken the target group of the integration process are only migrants the documents do not work with the majority the two groups remain separated, even in the integration documents the information or educational campaigns or activities that would provide the public with information on migration and migrants and their cultures are very rare the respect for migrants is not supported - on the contrary, the migrants are often portrayed as a burden to the Czech labour market, to the social security system (although they are not always entitled to benefit from the system), and as a danger for Czech or European culture It is a tight fight to ensure that migrants are not discriminated they are often systematically excluded from certain areas of life in a very discriminatory manner (participation in public healthcare insurance system, unavailability of public services due to language barriers Labour office services) CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

14. Conclusion As a result of the refugee crisis (there is no real refugee crisis in the Czech Republic) the very slow process of the integration process improvement has almost stopped no political support, hesitation, weak public support policy of closing the door The diversity as a goal has always been a difficult challenge for Czech society today, it s got even more difficult to achieve. CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS Department of Management and Supervision Faculty of Humanities Charles University in Prague

15. Thank you for your attention Blanka Tollarov