How to face reality: genres of discourse within Dutch minorities research

Since the early eighties, the Netherlands has pursued an active policy to further the integration of ethnic minority groups in Dutch society. Subsequent governments put scientific experts to work to investigate the history, socio-economic position and cultural background of different minority groups – investments which testified to a strong belief in social engineering and the ´makeability´ of Dutch society. In this paper, I will discern four significant genres of discourse within Dutch minorities studies that use different rhetorical strategies to make their readers ´face reality´.