Social Sciences

The situation in Germany and Israel is similar with regard to the increasing heterogeneity of their ethnic composition as a result of migration processes. Both countries have experienced waves of immigration from countries of the former Eastern Bloc, in particular the former Soviet Union, which have led to problems in the field of social integration and even to ethnic segmentation, despite numerous integration measures and the fact that immigrants were granted civic rights immediately. Both countries are also comparable insofar as, in addition to these recent waves of immigration, there are long-standing groups of immigrants who possess the status of ethnic minorities, such as Turkish immigrants in Germany and the Arab minority in Israel, who are also poorly integrated in society.

A German-Israeli research collaboration, which so far comprises the universities of Jena, Chemnitz, Leipzig, Mannheim, Bielefeld, Haifa and Tel Aviv, will make a comparative study of this situation in Germany and Israel (2006 – 2009). The BMBF will make available funds to the amount of approx. €2.9 million for the partners participating to date. An extension of the collaboration by one or two further research teams was announced on the occasion of Minister Annette Schavan's visit to Israel in June 2006 and is currently being prepared.

Topics

Potential topics for further research teams could be:

• Prospects of the native population
• Development transitions in subsequent phases of life
• Research-based model prevention measures
• Acculturation and identity
• Acculturation and language development
• Historical prospects of migration

Call for Proposals

The deadline for the submission of proposals was 7 October 2006. The selected research teams have been invited to present their project proposals at a workshop which took place in Jena on 22/23 November.

Last up-date: 01.12.2006