Zwischen Oktroi und staatsbürgerlicher Partizipation. Orientierungskurse und Staatsbürgerschaftstest in Deutschland und Europa

This article discusses the Federal German ”Orientation course” and different prototypes for ”naturalisation tests” in the German Länder in the context of comparative integration policy. Integration courses and naturalisation tests have at the same time become a policy tool for promoting integration in a targeted manner in various countries which attract immigration. Following a presentation of the context and the presentation of instruction material in the orientation courses, the authors interpret German development in the European context: under the aegis of the ministries of the interior, the courses under scrutiny do not constitute a basis for participatory or emancipative learning and educational efforts, instead turning into a ”soft weapon” in traditional immigration policy, which is geared towards exclusion and surveillance.