After the attack in Manchester, the British Multi-cultural society has begun to crack, writes the sociologist. In a DW Interview, she calls for the Integration in our open society.
Deutsche Welle: It was an attack on visitors of a Pop concert. Wanted to meet the assassin from Manchester, our open society, our freedom?
Ulrike Ackermann: In any case. Because in the eyes of the Islamists, the pop music is the epitome of this open, fun Western life and Western decadence. It is exactly the same pattern as that in Paris in the terrible attack in the Bataclan. In Ankara, there was this attack on young people who wanted to listen to a new CD of a pop group. These are the symbols that the Islamists. You want to ruin us right to the heart.
The question is whether you can make it. Can defend the liberal, Western state, this freedom at all – if he must but at the same time for safety?
“Do not be intimidated!”
Ulrike Ackermann
Of course, the state must ensure the safety of its citizens, so that they can live in freedom. And certainly the rise of Islamist terrorism leads to ever greater challenges for the security policy. But we need to balance security and freedom. To defend the open society, we need to go, unfortunately, also certain safety standards. We must, however, in no case, be intimidated. The Laughter on the street, the mini skirt, Kissing on the street – the moments of this life style, to have it except the Islamists. Therefore, we must adjust to the fact that courts are more closely monitored, that there is in the case of large events and concerts inlet controls. This is annoying, but we must nevertheless, of this life style not to be dissuaded.
Don’t be intimidated, they say. But how do we get the freedom in our minds?
By communicating with us: What are the principles style of this Western way of life and our freedoms? There is the secularism that Religion is a private matter. That the public space is not captured by religious zealots. That we live in a very different, but look carefully, the extent to which Integration of different cultures really can succeed.
This is the Problem with the British people now have to deal – that the dream of multi-cultural got some cracks that the Integration is not successful in all fields.
Also in Germany, the debate on a Leitkultur is flared up again. Pours Manchester now new Oil on the fire?
Commemoration of the attacks of Paris, The Brandenburg gate shone in the French national colours
I’m not sure if the term dominant culture of the mass is the most. But he was again thrown into the debate, forcing us to an open discussion about how we want to live. What’s up, what’s up? What is protected by the basic law? We need to lead a lively debate.
Is Manchester’s water on the mills of the Ausgrenzer, the populists – the enemies of freedom?
“Integration at all levels worked,”
Yes. With your attacks, the Islamists have been pursuing for about 2014 a split policy. You want to split the Western societies, to Muslims under General suspicion, more and more in parallel societies pulling back and since then a breeding ground for the recruitment to Jihadism. This is the strategy of the Islamists. We must not allow ourselves to impose.
After every Islamist attack Muslims and Islam organizations are under pressure, confessions of lay – up against Terror, for freedom of religion. Is this the solution?
It is not enough, unfortunately, a commitment to deliver. How shocked were all agreed, as a majority of the Turkish population in the Referendum on Erdogan? This goes back to the very successful policy of conservative Islam associations. And for me, this is an example of the Integration in our open, pluralistic society has not worked out at all levels. So, we have to deal.
Mrs Ackermann, how should responses of our society to Terror?
Serenity, vigilance and the defense of our lifestyle and our values of freedom.
The political scientist and sociologist, Professor Ulrike Ackermann, Born 1957, head of the Heidelberg John Stuart Mill Institute for liberty research.
With Stefan Dege language.