8/12/2019 Why Multiculturalism Should Not Be Abandonned - Telos

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Anthony Giddens / Sept. 11, 2006

Why multiculturalism should not be

abandonned

In an article published in the Observernewspaper recently, a reporter writes of his visit toa local mosque. It was not just any mosque, but one frequented by some of the British

Muslims held by the police in the plot to bring down several transatlantic planes. The

reporter talks of meeting two TV teams at the mosque. One, from the US, came to try to

find out why the UK is a hotbed of Muslim violence; the other team, which was French,

was there to report upon the collapse of the British model of integration.

-->The issues involved here are very important, because of all the countries the UK has

proceeded furthest with a multicultural approach to minorities and to citizenship. If the

British model of integration is disintegrating, it implies that multiculturalism is too.

What is multiculturalism? It does not mean what many think. Specifically, it does not

mean leaving minority groups to get on with their own lives, no matter what their culturalviews or attitudes may be. It does not imply allowing ghettos or separate ethnic

neighbourhoods to develop without reference to their implications for the wider society.

Multiculturalism means in fact almost the opposite of these things, as one can see from

the country where it has been effectively pioneered, Canada. A successful multicultural

society is one in which there is dialogue between differing cultural groups and minorities,

rather than separation. It is also one where some overarching values and obligations, not

a cultural free-for-all. In Canada it has long been accepted that language tests,

citizenship ceremonies and oaths are axiomatic for immigrants. They are wholly

uncontroversial, among the host population as well as migrants indeed, widely welcomed

as a sign of mutual commitment.

The UK has a far lower proportion of immigrants 8% to Canadas 18%. However it has

moulded its approach to integration upon that of Canada (since 1997) in contrast, for

instance, to France, which has insisted upon a conception of citizenship that more or less

ignores ethnic and cultural differences.

Is the British model of integration, then, in a state of imminent collapse? After all, the

terrorist plot to down several transatlantic airliners involves mostly British nationals, as

did the terrorist episode on the London underground. Are we witnessing the failure of

multiculturalism more generally (as many in fact, not just visiting TV crews, have

speculated)?

My answer would be a resounding noto both questions. Many critics have simply failed to

do their homework on what multiculturalism is. They identify it with a laissez faire

approach to cultural diversity, whereas in fact it means almost the opposite. But they have

also neglected to study what the evidence shows which is, that with all its problems and

insufficiencies, the UK has done a better job of integrating minorities and migrant

communities than any other of the major European states.

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8/12/2019 Why Multiculturalism Should Not Be Abandonned - Telos

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There are many different ethnic groups in Britain, and their fortunes vary. Those of

Indian, Chinese and Japanese origin on average are now out-performing the white

population. They do better at school, and their average level of income is higher. Blacks of

West Indian origin, especially girls, are doing much better in terms of educational results

than they were a few years ago. Some Muslim groups, like those from Malaysia, are also

relatively successful. People of Pakistani background, and especially those from

Bangladesh, fare less well.

Is it among these groups that the main problems lie, especially since those accused in the

airlines plot are all of Pakistani background? One might think so, because Pakistani

groups have also featured in the riots that happened in Oldham, Leeds and other cities in

the north of England in the 1990's and early 2000's. At that time serious worries were

expressed about the level of segregation between Pakistani and local white communities.

It was widely suggested in the press that social policies involved with multiculturalism

were to blame.

However, these accusations were made by those with scant knowledge of the

communities in question. A sociologist at the University of Bradford, Ludi Simpson, did

spend time studying those communities. He found that segregation was much lower than

outside commentators had suggested. Many Pakistani families originally living in inner-

city areas had in fact moved out of the inner-city wards to middle-class neighbourhoods

or rural areas. Contrary to the idea that the Asian communities wanted to keep to

themselves, the evidence showed a desire for more mixing, with most wanting

independent life-styles, away from too much ethnic clustering.

The potential for radicalisation among such groups has virtually nothing to do with

integration. The sentiments that drive such radicalisation do not come from general

feelings of alienation or exclusion. They are driven by religiosity, combined with ideas

about social justice and world politics. Individuals attracted by these ideas are more often

than not likely to be quite well-educated and seemingly responsible members of their local

communities. Certainly the leaders will be.

I don't believe there is anything specific about the UK that that will make it the home of

jihadist violence and, no, not Labour's foreign policy either. Home-grown, or partly

home-grown, jihadism is likely to be scattered among the European countries. After all,

the leading 9/11 conspirator, Mohammed Atta, lived in Germany. The most lethal

terrorist act yet witnessed in Europe took place in Spain, the Madrid bombings of 2004.

The murder of the film-maker Theo van Gogh, happened in the Netherlands. Nor will a

drive for hearts and minds eradicate it, since only tiny numbers of people are involved.

We will not solve Europe's problems with ethnic minorities by retreating from

multiculturalism, but by embracing it. Multiculturalism has barely been tried in most of

the EU countries. To abandon it now would mean deepening the isolation of minority

groups from the wider social community.

Telos. Reproduction strictement interdite.

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