The PVV, the former biggest coalition party in the Netherlands, writes in its election program that “our culture and Western way of life are threatened” by “the ongoing asylum tsunami.” This rhetoric is not an exception. Migration is one of the most polarizing topics of our time. Integration is much less discussed, although it is arguably not a migration but an integration or acceptance crisis we are experiencing. What is needed for integration to work? Is it only the immigrating person’s job to include themselves? Or what does the host society need to do?

Our guest, Dr. Tamar de Waal, is an associate professor and legal philosopher at the University of Amsterdam. She specializes in integration policy and democratic citizenship. We discuss what meaningful integration requires - not just from immigrants, but from host societies - and whether and how democracies should set conditions for newcomers seeking citizenship.

Interviewer: Elisabeth H. Knetsch