Microsimulation of virtual encounters: A new methodology for the analysis of socio-cultural cleavages

Abstract

Contrary to the USA, the European Union EU is a rather heterogeneous cultural context with many different languages, religious cultures, and political institutions. This heterogeneity is further accentuated by the integration of formerly communist countries into the EU. The European unification-process has not only enhanced labor migration within Europe but also increased the risk of interpersonal conflicts between migrants and the native populations of the countries of immigration. The mentioned problems will probably further increase, when other Eastern countries will join the EU and the currently existing legal restrictions with regard to labor mobility will terminate.1).