ABSTRACT
Political debates for a long time refuted the notion that there are any 'immigrants' in Germany. From the beginning of industrialization in the second half of the nineteenth century, German territories turned from an area of emigration to one of immigration. The most important initiative is the naturalization reform: the new 'Red-Green government' launched a new naturalization act with a provision for a limited jus soli and double citizenship. In 2002, the Red-Green coalition government was re-elected in a close vote, but for major reforms like the immigration law, it still needed the consent of the opposition because of the Christian Democrat majority in the second chamber. The current legal framework for immigrants' civic participation in Germany is laid down by the basic law and a number of specific laws and regulations. Immigrant associations receive assistance from several different programmes and government levels which aim to promote the integration of immigrants.
