The term “parallel society” describes the belief that “ethnic” or religious minorities develop their own infrastructures and separate themselves from a mainstream society that is considered to be homogenous. Especially since the mid-2000s, the term has been used in political debates on migration, integration and Islam in Germany to describe the supposed behaviour of Muslims and immigrants from Turkey (as well as their descendants). These alleged parallel societies are seen as an argument supporting the failure of a multicultural society. However, there is no scientific evidence of any independent forms of society in Germany.