ZiM Debate #09

[ Monday, 23 January 2006 ]

the late revenge of the colonized

Start: 19.30
Begin Debate: 20.00
Address: Sonor, 3de Pijnackerstraat 6b / Oude Noorden in Rotterdam
Directions: tram 8 (direction Oostplein) or 4 (direction Molenlaan) from Centraal Station exit Bergweg/hoek Gerald Scholtenstraat

Speakers: dr. Abderrahman El Aissati (Faculteit der Letteren in Tilburg), Hassan Amouch (historian), Asis Aynan (columnist).
Moderation: Mohamed Boukiour


Many migrants do not see that they owe loyalty to the country they live in, in contradiction to the present rule of integration as precondition to stay. While many native European politicians as well as media have changed their (public) opinion from formerly paternalizing in accusing migrants to exploit the social system, many migrants see that after a lifetime of hard work and/or a history of dependency and humiliation (be it in the life stories of their parents or the nationalist narratives of anti-colonialism), it is western societies in which they live that owes them something back. For native Europeans it is often difficult (out of ignorance or denial) to draw a relationship between their countries' history of colonial domination and today's reality of migration - from 'gastarbeiders' of the 1950's till recents events at the Maroccan border of Ceuta/Melilla to the youth riots in France. This debate will look deeper into those questions and their relevance.