Post-Migration and the Transformation of Urban Life: Experiences from Germany

Despite the immense attention in the public debate and in academic research with regard to the different forms of migration to Europe, main considerations have left out what the influx of social groups labeled as, “migrants”, “refugees”, “guest workers”, “foreigners”, “illegals” or others means for urban life. When it comes to discussing the place of these rather vaguely described groups in cities, the terminology applied in official and public discourses reinforces clichés of urban life. The use of local parlor on migration in the city shows, that mostly vocabulary is activated, which can be linked to some overarching discourses about “national identity”, “religion/Islam” or others, which are not generated by experiences from the ground but rather stemming from national and political narratives.