Ethnic division and populism of the Dutch Labour Party

Kirstie Stofanik
Thursday March 26th
8:12p.m


The Executive Board of the Labour Party presented its note in integration entitled “Divided Past, Shared Future”. It seems that Dutch political parties periodically present a new or renewed note on the integration of immigrants. Many found it striking that politicians increasingly use a harsher tone when referring to the position of immigrants in society as the most important social problem in the country. The note seemed to focus on the fact that the integration process has completely failed. Departing from this focus the note can be characterized as populist and presenting social division as it lacks calculated analyses, worth mentioning figures, or concrete and justifiable objectives. The note clearly shows a socially dividing perspective. The note seems to indicate that the executive board up to now does not consider immigrants as an inextricable component of Dutch society and does not wish to consider Islam to be part of Dutch religions as well. This note expresses tough language concerning the integration of migrants and especially Moslems will not come to an end in the near future. Their ethnic, religious and social diversity and the lack of organizational structure make them ineffective in forcing political parties to take a more realistic approach.


I feel that a better name for this note would have been a socially divided past and an even larger social division in the future. The politicians are wrong for picking a side and especially wrong for pushing away other citizens because of their religion, culture or any ethnic diversity. It amazes me how people are still immature about problems in a society. This problem in the Dutch society has been labeled as a social problem therefore people should do something to help.