ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

Name And LOGO of institution

DENMARK: LIBERALITY AND TOLERATION: CULTURAL DIVERSITY CHALLENGES IN DENMARK by Morten

Braender

Presented by Ayhan Kaya, Istanbul Bilgi UniversityFlorence, EUI, 8-9 July 2010

Work Package 1–Overview of National Discourses on

Tolerance and Cultural Diversity

Denmark: Liberality vs. ToleranceHistorically torn between Germany and SwedenGradually in allience with Russia, France, UK and the USATwo national anthems signifiying

• the Imperial legacy dating back to 1778 (imperial, royal, unitied, composite Denmark with French was the language of the aristocracy, German administrative language, the others German, and Norwegian); and • the national legacy dating back to 1808 (romantic, pastoral).

ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

Anti-Europeanness in the 19th centuryBeing Danish equals with being Scandinavian.Being European means being German.

Formation of the Nation: Danish national identity based on the prominent thinker Niels Fredrik Severin Gruntvig. The idea of liberality springs from his teachings. Danish liberality differs from European tolerance.Liberality vs. ToleranceRomanticism vs EnlightenmentKantian Vernunft vs VerstandGemeinschaft vs. GeselschaftKultur vs. ZivilizationDoes it mean that Danish liberality is more communitarian, particularist, culturalist and local?

ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

I am a bit intrigued when the text makes an distinction between Danish liberality and German tolerance (p.5).Cartoon Crisis (2004): PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen:

“Liberality is an old-fashioned word, but it needs dusting. Instead of babbling tolerance, according to which everything weighs equally, we need liberality. Liberality means knowing what you stand for while respecting the values of others”.

Citizenship, Migration and Islam debate after 9/11: Danishness is being redefined vis-a-vis the Muslim origin migrants and their descendants.Varieties of Citizenship:

Indvodsret: royal and inclusive definition of citizenship based on the principle of ius soli. Still being used to include those Danes residing in the German territory. Statsborgerskab: tribal and national form of citizenship based on the principle of ius sanguinis (Gemeinschaft);Medborgerskab: fellow citizens exclusive to the trbally and culturally Danish.

ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

Familiy unification of immigrants before the age of 24 was limited in 2002, very much debated in the world.Tightening of immigration and integration policies: subjective and confessional criterion of being Danish were emphasized on top of the criteria of speaking the language, and passing the citizenship test. “Acting Danish will never make you Danish, only regarding yourself as such will.”Europe and Denmark:Entry in 1972Rejecting the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 in referandum; later accepted through a certain compromise regarding security policy, monetary union and Justice and Home affairs.

ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

Cultural Diversity Challenges:Jewish minorityGerman minorityScandinavian minorityIndigenous minority in GreenlandMuslims

Cartoon Crisis brought about a new political climate in which Danes have become more tolerant to the Muslim origin immigrants, and Muslims have become more outspoken and politically active to express themselves in the public space (crisis situations may bring further dialog).

ROBERT SCHUMAN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES