Beyond the Commission on Integration and Cohesion
• The future for good race relations
Nick JohnsonDirector of Policy Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo)
Tuesday 20th May 2008
Key part of public policy debate• 2001 disturbances and Cantle report• Diversity & solidarity debate• Multiculturalism vs Integration• CRE’s integration agenda• 7/7 and PVE agenda• Commission on Integration & Cohesion
But where have we got to?• Socially• Public opinion• Data• Opinion• Politically
A changing world….. • In 1965 75m people lived outside the
home country, now 180m • 600,000 Brits live in Spain, more in other
countries (200,000 NZ); 3m with second homes
• Travel: 25m tourists to UK• Globalisation in many forms: international
students, brands, internet etc.
But are we comfortable with diversity?• Riots in France, Australia and other
countries • Demands to limit migration• Rise of extremism• Divisions & tensions within communities &
neighbourhoods • More change to come
How is Britain doing? • ‘White flight’ from cities to rural areas
- changing population composition• Schools becoming more polarised• Persistent inequalities • BNP vote consistent – c.10%• Not dealing well with migration
politically and practically
Worsening public attitudes
42%
39%
29%
20%
17%
15%
12%
11%
10%
10%
9%
Immigration remains the most important issue facing Britain
Top mentions – Q1/2 combined
Base c 1000 British adults
Q1 What would you say is the single most important issue facing Britain today?Q2 What would you say are the other important issues facing Britain today?
Combining mentions of immigration, asylum and race relations increases figure to 47% - detailed in topline
Crime/law & order
Defence/foreign affairs
NHS/Hospitals
Education/schools
Housing
Economy
Unemployment
Pollution/environment
Drug abuse
Immigration/immigrants
Asylum seekers
51%
25%
31%
39%
Immigration makes Britain open to ideas and cultures
Immigration increases crime rates
20031995
Source: BSA 2004/5
Change95-03
-20
+14
% agreeing with statements
Big shift to negative view of social consequences of immigration
Upsurge in admitted racial prejudice
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1985 1996
• Disagree/Agree that Britain is losing its culture
41
24
28
27
25
24
20
30
33
36
39
50
66
61
59
61
65
62
57
53
London
Scotland
E Midlands
South East
North West
Wales
Eastern
South West
Yorks&HumberNorth East
“A political struggle for the correct position rather than (or in addition to) a
technical struggle with recalcitrant numerical data”
The Index Wars
• Between1991-2001 Census data shows that the White population reduced by:
• 43,000 in Manchester
• 90,000 in Birmingham
• 340,000 in London
• Over the same period, the BME population increased by:
• 15,000 in Manchester
• 58,000 in Birmingham
• 600,000 in London
Government paints positive picture• 82% say that area is a place where people of
different backgrounds get on well togetherBut…• Social capital measures hint at a different
story• London scores 84% on the above rating• Yet just 21 % know, speak to & trust
neighbours
And…
A polarised debate
Sleepwalking to segregation
Parallel Lives
Too diverse?
Sleepwalking to
simplicity
Myth of segregation
An emerging consensus?
Key components• Need to focus on uniting not dividing• Meaningful interaction is key• Citizenship needs to be promoted• Inequality and deprivation are crucial
factors• Local solutions
Migration not well-managed • Managed migration in economic terms
but little attention to social & community
• Resources conflicts are real, data limited and ‘churn’ under-estimated
• Focus on rural areas, new for migration• Reinforcing segregation?
Super Diversity: Managing the interface
• Between and within communities • No longer a black v white issue• Between generations• Conflict resolution and intervention • Extremism Issue – and understanding
diversity within communities
Cohesion and Integration are about• Promoting a common sense of
belonging • Valuing diversity• Tackling disadvantage and inequalities• Promoting interaction in the workplace,
schools and neighbourhoods
A new picture of ourselves
The challenge of cohesion • What does it mean in Brighton, Bradford
or Barking? And in rural areas too.• Continue to tackle unequal life chances,
poverty & disaffection • Problem is poor housing, education, life
chances not diversity• And create a sense of belonging• Stressing common good rather than
individualism
Local Challenges• Eliminate inequalities• Break down segregated communities• Weaken fear of difference• Emphasis on ‘place making’ and ‘local
citizenship’ • ‘where you are’, not ‘where you are from’• Create a sense of belonging
Some vital measures• Solving the data problem
– mapping community dynamics – change in number & settlement patterns
• Structural changes & funding regimes– encourage people & organisations to co-operate
• English language provision• Citizenship
People who settle in this country should have citizenship lessons about the British way of life % Agree% Disagree
Net agree+%
77
5822
13
EMG
All +64
+36
77
7610
10
EMG
All +67
+66
Immigrants to Britain who do not speak English should be made to learn English
Base: All GB adults , aged 16+ (822) All EMG adults, aged 16+ (649)
Developing mixed communities • Planning mixed communities – existing
areas & new developments • Thinking about employment and
enterprise opportunities, cultural and other facilities
• Developing shared spaces
Working across communities • Examples such as school twinning, sports &
arts programmes, inter-faith networks, youth projects
• Create shared experiences, shared spaces, to develop understanding, trust & shared values
• Making it sustainable – social capital and civil society
• And making it mainstream – in schools, in regeneration schemes, in the workplace etc
Leadership -requires vision & political will
The Policy Framework• Bring agendas together
–Social capital, multiculturalism, integration, cohesion, equalities, citizenship, place-making etc…
• About how we live together–Equality of opportunity, meaningful
interaction between people and active participation in society
The lessons• Mainstream – cohesion must be core• Must not ignore inequalities• But more of a focus on bringing people
together• Through core services not add-on
programmes• Leadership and positive narrative