INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Living Together as Equals Principles of Social Democratic integration policy: democratic, pluralist and socially oriented THOMAS MEYER, CHRISTINE FÄRBER, ELIF ÖZMEN AND JULIAN NIDA-RÜMELIN March 2012 „ „ The integration of immigrants in the German host society has been largely success­ful. However, different problems still exist, e.g. the majority of immigrants experience serious discrimination in their everyday lives and at work. Also, the German educa­tion system does not yet guarantee everyone equal chances of success. „ „ For integration to be successful Germany must cease to regard its new citizens as foreign in the long term. We are committed to a culture of mutual recognition. All cultural and religious identities have a right to be recognised as of equal value as long as they extend the same recognition to others. The recognition of all cultures and religions as equal only assumes real meaning if it includes equal access to soci­ety’s material and social goods. „ „ Integration is a task for the whole of society, for all social classes, all milieus, all re­gions, and for mainstream society as much as for immigrants. Integration requires a shared political culture and a common understanding of the basic values of social coexistence and of what it means to be a citizen. Unlike assimilation it respects cul­tural differences in personal lifestyles and in people’s religious cultures. The only kind of culture that promises successful integration is a culture of recognition. This is an achievement both of the state and of the people involved.