Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries - Germany (CILS4EU-DE)

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Frank Kalter; Professorin Irena Kogan, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 244760921

The Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries–Germany (CILS4EU-DE) began in 2009 as part of the "NORFACE Research Programme on Migration" (2009-2013). Since 2014, it has been part of the DFG’s long-term programme. The project has tracked adolescents from age 14 and now seeks a fifth and final funding period (2026–2027) to extend the study, initially planned to conclude in 2025. The extension is necessary due to the study’s importance in understanding how major crises—including the refugee crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the war in Gaza—are shaping German society and potentially affecting individuals with and without migration backgrounds differently. These crises have caused disruptions, leading—among other consequences—to societal polarisation and the rise of far-right extremism, such as the AfD's growth. The project has already collected 14 years of longitudinal data on young adults, tracking their attitudes, values, and behaviours since they were 14. However, these crises and their consequences were unforeseen when the original 10-year proposal was made. To address these new challenges, the project will collect the final survey wave specifically designed to investigate how these recent developments have affected integration and aspirations, especially for those with migration backgrounds. This additional data collection phase is essential to fully understand how the evolving conditions in Germany are shaping integration processes and social cohesion. Our research objectives are twofold. First, we will utilize the full scope of the longitudinal data, applying a holistic approach to understand how the crises young people have experienced over time have shaped key aspects of their integration. We will leverage the extensive longitudinal data collected across various dimensions of integration. This data enables an in-depth analysis of how respondents’ aspirations and their actual situations in various life domains have evolved since 2010 and how crises have influenced these patterns. By answering these questions, we will ultimately reach the project’s conceptual conclusion. Second, we will explore specific, current challenges faced by young people, focusing on how various aspects of the changing social climate impact their individual trajectories. In particular, we will examine the emergence and effects of the political shift to the right, individuals’ perceptions of the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and their perspectives on changing work arrangements. The final phase will involve conducting a new survey wave with innovative instruments and novel research, leveraging over a decade’s worth of data. This phase aims to address critical questions and provide significant academic insights and practical implications for societal cohesion. A major publication synthesizing these findings is planned, offering scholars and policymakers a comprehensive understanding of integration and polarization in Germany.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Josef Brüderl; Professorin Dr. Ursula Hirschfeld; Professorin Dr. Frauke Kreuter; Dr. Silke Schneider
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Christian Dustmann, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Fenella Fleischmann; Jon Horgen Friberg; Professor Dr. Anthony Heath; Professor Dr. Miles Hewstone; Professorin Dr. Eva Jaspers; Professor Dr. Jan Jonsson; Professor Dr. Matthijs Kalmijn; Professorin Dr. Carina Mood; Professorin Karen Phalet, Ph.D.; Olivia Spiegler, Ph.D.; Professor Frank van Tubergen