AQCI 1
Lecture: European Policies and Practice toward Ethnic Minorities
Lecturer: Antonin Mikes
Student: Max Babilon-Crockett
Date: October 13, 2015
Brubacker, Rogers, “Civic and ethnic nations in France and Germany”, text 28. in Hutchinson, John,
Smith Anthony, ed. (1996) Ethnicity, Oxford - New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 168-173
Birch, Anthony (1989) Nationalism and National Integration, London: Unwin Hyman Ltd, chapter 4:
National integration, pp. 36-51.
1. CENTRAL QUOTATION: “For two centuries, locked together in a fateful position at the
center of the state- and nation-building in Europe, France and Germany have been constructing,
elaborating, and furnishing to other states distinctive, even antagonistic models of nationhood
and national self-understanding” (Brubaker, 1).
2. ARGUMENT: Although Europe is becoming more homogenized politically and economically,
two of its most influential nations have highly opposing views on the development of self-identity
and citizenship. France has historically been a state which administratively absorbed and
assimilated people into the French population. Conversely, Germany is a nation composed of
people who had already considered themselves ethnically German. As a result of these
histories, France is a nation which is open to people to becoming French, and then becoming
culturally adjusted. Becoming a German relies predominantly on shared German ancestry.
These attitudes are reflected in the nations’ tendencies to adopt new citizens.
3. QUESTION: The original publication predates the European Union by a decade. How much
does the existence of the European Union diminish the value of this distinction between French
and German identities and citizenship? It may be interesting, but is it becoming trivial?
4. EXPERIENTIAL CONNECTION: My grandparents and their daughter moved to the United
States from Germany before my mother was born. When she was born, she became American
immediately and facilitated my German family staying in the United States. This makes me
ethnically German, so I possess two passports. I have always felt obligated to know German
and to identify with German history, but I can’t help feeling like my grandparents and I both
cheated this whole citizenship system.
5. TEXTUAL CONNECTION: “There are some political systems in which particular ethnic
groups are completely excluded from the normal channels of power and treated only as objects
of policy” (Birch, 50). Birch suggests that black South Africans and Canadian Inuit share
varying degrees of this political exclusion based on ethnicity. As Brubacker describes it, the
German citizenship model seems like it could be viewed as highly exclusivist and prejudicial.
6. IMPLICATIONS: The state is defined by its citizens as much as it defines who its citizens are.
The attitude a nation has toward immigrants is likely to reinforce itself, which could be the cause
of extreme xenophobia as well as totally unregulated immigration and a diminished cultural
identity. The text also suggests that the political upheaval, such as the dissolving of a nation,
has the potential to lead to the abuse of both citizenship models. People claiming German
ethnicity could, and did, flood out of the USSR into some German regions. Their German
heritage didn’t mean that they were instantly integrated into German society. At the same time,
it seems that the French citizenship model is prone to allowing mass immigration, which could
be beyond regulation and wouldn’t lead to the assimilation of newcomers.
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s name:
Max Babilon-Crockett
Essay title:
AQCI 1
Name of
assessor:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the author’s
argument?
Go
od
Kelsey Beckmeyer
Aver
age
Not
accept
able
13.10.15
Comments
X
The quote relates to the central
argument, but doesn’t fully
highlight the differences in the
practices of each state.
Very nice overview of the
argument as a whole. Clear and
concise.
X
Interesting question. Does the EU
mean that individual countries
lose their own identity as a
nation or more so enhance the
political relationships in Europe?
There is a lot to explore within
your question.
Since the text is from before the
EU, there is no exploration of this
dynamic.
If German citizenship is based on
ethnicity, wouldn’t you have met
the criteria? What makes you feel
like you cheated?
X
2) Has the main argument been fully understood
(including its ‘for’ and ‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully answered in
the text?
Po
or
Date:
X
X
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
X
5a) Is the textual connection relevant/interesting?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
5c) Has it been adequately explained how the
present text's argument contrasts with, contradicts,
confirms, clarifies, or elaborates the other text's
argument or point?
X
X
X
6) Have the implications been well understood, can
they have a practical impact for policy making?
Are there further examples of
ethnic minorities in Germany that
could support your connect?
The implications mentioned are
thoughtful and align with the
text. They raise good
commentary on what to consider
about immigration and
citizenship policy.
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general use of
English adequate?
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
Essay grade:
Further comments:
X
X