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Division and Unification: Seen through the Eyes of Korean Migrants in Berlin
Teilung und Vereinigung, aus Sicht von koreanischen Migranten in Berlin
[journal article]
Abstract Based on qualitative fieldwork among first generation Korean immigrants in Berlin, this article sheds light on their lived experiences of German division and unification. Our research questions are threefold; first, how do these immigrants from the divided Korea perceive the division and unification... view more
Based on qualitative fieldwork among first generation Korean immigrants in Berlin, this article sheds light on their lived experiences of German division and unification. Our research questions are threefold; first, how do these immigrants from the divided Korea perceive the division and unification of Germany? Second, did the fact that the division of Germany could be overcome affect their views on the division and unification of the Korean Peninsula? Third, are there any differences between Koreans in Germany and Koreans in Korea with respect to their views on unification? Our research suggests that different from South Korea, where the discourses in the media and the academia tend to assume sharply antagonistic attitudes, discourses among Koreans in Germany are generally much more supportive of unification. This is because they have a positive perception of German unification in everyday life and, furthermore, have constructed for themselves a future-oriented identity as a people of the Korean Peninsula that will eventually be unified. Korean immigrants in Germany are considerably more optimistic about the possibility of Korean unification than people in South Korea.... view less
Keywords
national unity; self awareness; international comparison; migrant; future perspective; field research; national division; South Korea; Federal Republic of Germany; North Korea; national integration; Berlin
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
German Unification; Korean migrants; German Korean comparison
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
Page/Pages
p. 308-324
Journal
Historical Social Research, 44 (2019) 4
Issue topic
Social Integration or Mind Integration? An Alternative Approach for the Unification of Divided Systems
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed