Fragmentation

With the local elections (March 3) fast approaching, a particular phenomenon is casting a dark shadow on unity of Dutch society. In recent days several sites reported sightings of election posters and pamphlets in languages other then Dutch. In some constituencies candidates are campaigning in their mother tongue, exclusively catering to voters sharing their identity. Het Vrije Volk provided a nice overview of examples running the political gamut: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

That this phenomenon is not limited to candidates of non-Dutch origin was today illustrated by Geenstijl, with the examples of Lodewijk Asscher and Freek Ossel (both Labour PvdA in Amsterdam) campaigning in Turkish.

Although described as 'incidences', the number of examples, and the breadth of political affiliation they share, seems to indicate that all over the Netherlands the established political parties are actively out canvassing for the non-indigenous vote. Moreover, they are going about it in a way that raises the spectre of clientèlism and identity politics. Whatever the outcome, these examples show how tragically fragmented Dutch society has become under the influence of mass immigration and a refusal to integrate of those immigrating here.

And silently I weep for a land that once was.

See also:
Snouck Hurgronje