Refugee integration - Thoughts about what NOT to say and do

Refugee integration - Thoughts about what NOT to say and do In the article, Philipp C. Wichardt highlights the importance of empathy in addressing anxiety about refugee movements. He argues that dismissing these fears is unhelpful; instead, acknowledging and validating them fosters connection and openness, ultimately reducing tensions and promoting integration. About ten years ago, Angela Merkel expressed her confidence in Germany’s and Europe’s social resilience in connection with the European migrant crisis by saying, “Wir schaffen das!” (We will make it!). At the time, it was primarily the civil war in Syria that was driving refugee numbers up. Since then, however, the Russian war against Ukraine has led to considerable additional movements putting further tension on, for instance, social security systems and local housing markets. This still discounts common movements of political asylum seekers and economic migrants reaching European borders each year. So, did we make it?