Transcript Multicultural Britain – Successes and Challenges

Multicultural Britain –
Successes and Challenges
Paul Fairclough
Director Partnership Programmes
British Council Poland
24 June 2006
Introduction
I will suggest that:
• the ethnically and religiously diverse nature of
British society has been hugely beneficial for
Britain
• that the British approaches towards
developing a multicultural society have been
largely positive – and are evolving
• that major challenges remain
Some key facts
• Around 8% do not classify themselves as
‘White’ (4.6m people)
• Around 50% of those are from South Asia
• Around 5% are Chinese
• Around 25% as Black or Black British
• There are around 1.5m Muslims, 550,000
Hindus, 330,000 Sikhs and 260,000 Jews in
UK
• There are around 200,000 Gypsies in UK
British Multiculturalism
• ‘accommodative multiculturalism’
‘’It interprets and applies its laws, and formulates and
implements its policies, in a culturally sensitive
manner, and gives its minorities the freedom and
sometimes the resources to maintain their languages
and cultures’’ Lord Parekh
• Statistics by ethnic origin or religion – for equal
opportunities
The benefits of a multicultural
society 1
Economic benefits:
• ‘’ It is estimated that in 1999/2000 migrants in
the UK contributed £31.2 billion in taxes and
consumed £28.8 billion in benefits and state
services, a net fiscal contribution of
approximately £2.5 billion after rounding’’ (UK
Government report 2002)
• Ageing population/EU expansion
• Migrants bring new skills and experiences plus
trading links
The benefits of a multicultural
society 2
Cultural benefits:
• Popular music, Drama, Comedy,
Literature, the Arts
• Fusions of forms/ hybrid cultures
Perceptions of multiculturalism
in UK
A source of creativity and innovation
• In London 300 languages spoken
• Over 25% of the population of London were born
in another country
• ‘’ It is this mix of people that makes London a
vibrant melting pot for innovation, originality and
cutting edge creativity’’ (The leader of the
London Olympic Bid)
Attitudes to race in UK
Attitudes to race in UK (2)
Challenges - Education
Challenges – Asylum
• 2002 110,700 asylum applications (75%
rejected)
• 2004 33,900 applications (89% rejected)
• 26% welcomed asylum seekers (MORI)
• 85% recognised media bias (MORI)
Challenges: Geopolitical,
Economic, Cultural
•
•
•
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Impact of Iraq war
Alienation – fundamentalism
Unemployment within some communities
Cultural divides/conflicts
Key success factors
• Appropriate and enforced legislation (e.g Race Relations
Amendment Act – 2000)
• Pragmatic common sense solutions – not ideology
• A responsible media – BBC, the tabloid press?
• A strong NGO sector
• Citizenship education
• Representation in public sector, politics and role models
• Economic and employment policies
• Open debate – multiculturalism in UK today – social
cohesion/cultural pluralism
Vision for the future
• ‘A shared identity and common sense of
belonging goes hand in hand with love of
diversity’
• ‘The fundamental principle is to treat people
equally and to treat them with due respect for
difference’
• ‘To treasure the rights and freedoms of
individuals and to cherish belonging, cohesion
and solidarity’ (Runnymede Trust)