MODERN GREEK IMMIGRATION INTEGRATION
Introduction
Researchers and scholars of different times have given important ideas, views, and opinions about Modern Greek immigration integration. Most of them point out the ineffectiveness of Greek immigration policy in promoting immigrant integration into the Greek society. This paper provides a review of some of the resources on the same. It analyzes various scholarly articles and other resources that contain information on immigration and integration into Modern Greece.
Literature Review/Analysis
Before 1970s, Greece was regarded as a southern Europe emigration nation. However, as from 1989, the trend changed as the country started hosting huge waves of immigrants. It became a permanent destination for immigrants from Eastern and Central Europe, and Asian nations such as India, Iraq, and Pakistan.[1] Greece has clear regularization programs that play an important role in controlling illegal immigration. However, many immigrants still live in the country without any form of authorization. The large number of immigrants in Greece has made it necessary for the country to adopt an integration action plan for its own advantage. This program emphasizes on the integration of the immigrants into the political, social, and economic systems of the Greek society.[2]
There are several factors that make Greece an ideal immigrant destination. To begin with, the country has a good geographical location. It is considered to be the European Union (EU)’s eastern gate. Greece has extensive coastlines, and its borders can be easily crossed. This makes it easy for immigrants to access it. Since the country joined EU in the year 1981, it has achieved important economic growth. Many people move into the country in search of employment and other economic opportunities. There is a high demand of immigrant labor force in construction industry, agricultural fields, and tourism sector.[3]
In Greece, the local government plays an important role in immigrant integration. Local municipal authorities collaborate with other government and non-governmental organizations in provision of various social services, including education, health and social services. These services are not only beneficial to the native Greek, but also the immigrants. The municipalities also maintain various types of infrastructure of the towns and cities where immigrant communities reside. The role that the local authorities play in the integration of immigrants has made it necessary for it to be involved in the formulation of various migrant integration policies.[4]
The process of immigrant integration into the Greek society is not that easy. It entails a series of procedures that take time. The process is sometimes hindered or delayed by both cultural and institutional factors.[5] Despite this, economic integration tends to be fairly favorable to the immigrants. For instance, there is no significant difference between their unemployment rate and that of the Greeks. Thus, there are lots of employment opportunities for immigrants. This is due to their flexibility to adjust and adapt well to the needs of the Greek labor market. For example, most immigrants tend to be comfortable with lower wages.[6]
Most nations around the world use the education system to create homogeneity among their citizens.[7] This is mainly achieved through emphasis on linguistic uniformity. In Greece, there is a close relationship between education, citizenship, and ethnicity. Many immigrants in the country are yet to be recognized as legal citizens. It is felt that they have first to be fully integrated into the Greek societal system. Schools provide an important avenue for the integration.[8] Immigrant learners are taught about the Greek language, culture, and civilization. This helps them to familiarize with the Greek ways of life. In the process, they end up achieving Greek ethnicity.[9]
To make the integration of the immigrants easy, the Greek government has made some changes to the country’s immigration policy. The new policy focuses on admission of immigrants who are of Greek ethnic origin. This change has seen an influx of Pontic Greeks and Greek Albanians in the country. The Pontic Greeks are considered to be returned into the country. On the other hand, the Greek ethnic descent of the Greek Albanians is increasingly being recognized. The trend towards Greek descent is based on the assumption that it is easier to for immigrants of the Greek origin to be easily integrated than those of other ethnic origins.[10]
Although the Greek immigration policy has undergone a series of significant changes for in the last three decades, it still remains ineffective. The policy is short-sighted in the sense that it makes immigration to be a necessary evil rather than an opportunity. Unlike the immigration policies of countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and France, the immigration policy of Greek emphasizes on dealing with illegal immigrants. It does not have provisions on how immigrants can be effectively integrated into the country. There is lack of a political will in Greece to recognize immigrants as part of the society. Immigrants are not treated equally with the locals. This situation hinders the process of integration.[11]
Conclusion
Greece continues to receive large number of immigrants despite the fact that the country lacks an effective immigration policy. The country gives priority to immigrants of Greek descent. Although immigrants of other origins are admitted into the country, it takes time for them to be recognized and get fully integrated into the Greek society. This situation calls for Greek immigration policy change. There is need to adopt a flexible policy without the sated restrictions. This will help the country to reap the benefits of immigration.
Bibliography
Anagnostou, Dia, Dimitris Skleparis, Giorgos Tzogopoulos and Aimilia Kontogianni. Local Government and Migrant Integration in Greece, 2016. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.17310.95046
Glytsos, Nicholas P. Stepping from Illegality to the Legaliy and Advancing towards Inergration: The Case of Immigrants in Greece. The International Migration Review 39, no. 4 (2005): 819-840.
Ireland, Patrick. Becoming Europe. University of Pittsburgh Press, 2004.
Kasimis, Charalambos. “Greece, migration 1830s to present,” In The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration (pp.Volume III, pp. 1602-1609) Chapter: Greece, migration 1830s to presentPublisher: Wiley-BlackwellEditors: Immanuel Ness (ed).
Murphy, Cliodhna. Immigration, Integration and the Law: The Intersection of Domestic, EU and International Legal Regimes. 2013. Farnham, Surrey, England : Ashgate Publishing Limited
Tara Zahra. The Lost Children. Harvard University Press, 2011.
Triandafyllidou, Anna and Mariangela Veikou. The hierarchy of Greekness: Ethnic and national identity considerations in Greek immigration policy. Ethnicities 2, no. 2 (2002).
Triandafyllidou, Anna. Greek Immigration Policy at the Turn of the 21st Century. Lack of Political Will or Purposeful Mismanagement? European Journal of Migration and Law 11, no. 2 (2009): 159-177.
Zachos, Dimitrios. itizenship, Ethnicity, and Education in Modern Greece. Journal of Modern Greek Studies 27, (2009): 131-155.
[1]Patrick Ireland, Becoming Europe (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2004), 31.
[2]Charalambos Kasimis, “Greece, migration 1830s to present,” (The Encyclopedia of Global Human Migration (pp.Volume III, pp. 1602-1609) Chapter: Greece, migration 1830s to presentPublisher: Wiley-BlackwellEditors: Immanuel Ness (ed)), 49.
[3]Dia Anagnostou,, Dimitris Skleparis, Giorgos Tzogopoulos and Aimilia Kontogianni, (Local Government and Migrant Integration in Greece, 2016), 77.
[4]Cliodhna Murphy, Immigration, Integration and the Law: The Intersection of Domestic, EU and International Legal Regimes (Farnham, Surrey, England : Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2013), 214.
[5]Zahra Tara, The Lost Children (Harvard University Press, 2011), 13.
[6]Nicholas P Glytsos, Stepping from Illegality to the Legaliy and Advancing towards Inergration: The Case of Immigrants in Greece. The International Migration Review 39, no. 4 (2005), 823.
[7]Tara, 15.
[8]Ireland, 47.
[9]Dimitrios Zachos, Citizenship, Ethnicity, and Education in Modern Greece (Journal of Modern Greek Studies 27, (2009), 134.
[10]AnnaTriandafyllidou and Mariangela Veikou. The hierarchy of Greekness: Ethnic and national identity considerations in Greek immigration policy (Ethnicities 2, no. 2 (2002), 158.
[11]Anna Triandafyllidou, Greek Immigration Policy at the Turn of the 21st Century. Lack of Political Will or Purposeful Mismanagement? (European Journal of Migration and Law 11, no. 2 (2009), 168.
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