The German government's open-door Aussiedler policy, 1988-1992
The political reform process that gathered momentum in eastern and south-eastern
Europe during 1987 and 1988 was accompanied by a growing exodus of ethnic and
cultural Germans (Aussiedler) who sought resettlement in West Germany. The
Aussiedler were welcomed enthusiastically by Chancellor Kohl as fellow German
compatriots who would be a benefit to the economy. The opposition SPD voiced its
concerns over the government's motives for maintaining the open-door Aussiedler
immigration policy and over the likely integration difficulties. The government
sought to respond to public concerns in 1988 by reassessing its Aussiedler policy. It
decided firstly to continue the open-door Aussiedler policy (as a constitutional
right), secondly to implement an Aussiedler integration assistance programme and
thirdly to seek to persuade potential Aussiedler not to emigrate to West Germany.
The thesis adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to analysing the government's
open-door Aussiedler policy during the period 1988 to 1992, formulating the
political and public concerns over the Aussiedler policy into three main research
questions. These questions analyse: 1. Whether the government's declared motives for maintaining the open-door
Aussiedler policy were justified.
2. Whether the government's optimism over the ability of Aussiedler to
successfully integrate into the employment market was justified.
3. Whether the government's policy of seeking to persuade potential
Soviet Aussiedler to remain in their country, by negotiating on the
re-creation of an autonomous German Volga republic, was viable. The findings for these three main questions allow for an assessment of government
Aussiedler policy for the period 1988 - 1992. The thesis argues that there was
evidence during the period of study to support the argument that the Aussiedler
group was to a degree instrumentalised by the government to serve its own political,
economic and nationalistic purposes. Government confidence concerning Aussiedler
employment integration proved to be too optimistic, as Aussiedler had specific
causes of unemployment. Furthermore, the attempt to negotiate the re-creation of
an autonomous German republic in Russia was unsuccessful. The exodus has
continued.
Population and Settlement
Part 1 Population distribution: world population distribution variations in world population distribution population distribution in the Highlands and Islands population distribution in Japan population distribution in Brazil. Part 2 Population growth and movement: population structure the world population explosion variations in population growth migration why do people migrate types of migration in North and West Africa West German migration populating the USSR populating Australia attitudes to population control population and natural resources. Part 3 Settlements: location of settlement settlement types settlement functions settlement patterns South Wales valley settlements the changing village. Part 4 Urbanization: million cities world urbanization rural-urban migration in the developing world urban land use inner city problems urban transport the Tyneside metro spheres of influence changing shopping habits the Dutch Randstad Lagos - a city in the developing world new and expanding towns in the UK new settlements in developing countries green belts or red bricks? Part 5 Further studies: UK population migration Kenya's population problems Sheffield Washington New Town.
Protection of the Marine Environment: The International and National Regulation of Deep Seabed Mining Activities
This chapter provides an overview of the international and national regulatory framework pertaining to deep seabed mining activities. It begins by discussing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the backdrop for all marine activities – be they national or international – and examines the obligations of states to protect the marine environment from the harmful effects arising from deep seabed mining. Next, the chapter examines the international regime for deep seabed mining (i.e. “activities in the Area”), explaining the “common heritage of mankind” status of the Area (i.e. the international seabed); the functions of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international organization established to govern deep seabed mining in the Area; and the concept of state sponsorship of non-state entities (i.e. private actors) for deep seabed mining in the Area. The chapter follows with a discussion of the development of national legislation to regulate deep seabed mining, examining efforts in the Pacific region where many prospective deep-sea mining sites are located. This includes a look at the legislative regimes of several Pacific Island nations, namely, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the Cook Islands, for whom deep seabed mining may soon become a reality – as well as New Zealand and Japan, countries with comparatively developed rule of law and legislative regimes that have undertaken or considered deep seabed mining in their national waters. Overall, the chapter critically describes and evaluates the current regulatory status in the international and national seabed areas and highlights some salient gaps that require urgent attention in order to ensure marine environmental protection and mitigate impacts on humans.