A new book examined the role of multiculturalism in the construction of the European Union, and the difficulties of creating a political space for identities that were simultaneously national, regional, linguistic, and religious.
Source: Riva Kastoryano, An Identity for Europe: The relevance of multiculturalism in EU construction, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Dec
An article said that although meaningful contact between members of different cultural groups might promote trust between them, this did not warrant the key role that had been given by policy-makers to the idea of community cohesion. Instead policies should aim to foster a widespread sense of belonging to the 'polity' – which was not the same as sharing a national identity.
Source: Andrew Mason, 'Integration, cohesion and national identity: theoretical reflections on recent British policy', British Journal of Political Science, Volume 40 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article drew on three models of state policies towards families to propose a reframing of multiculturalist policies – the 'authorization' model, where the state authorized families to define and enforce family obligations as law; the 'delegation' model, where the state prescribed the norms that families were to follow and delegated to families the role of enforcing them; and the 'purposive abstention' model, where the state used the voluntary performance family norms as a tool of policy, giving them limited legal recognition within the continued application of the general law.
Source: John Eekelaar, 'From multiculturalism to cultural voluntarism: a family-based approach', Political Quarterly, Volume 81 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
A new book examined the growth of Muslim political assertiveness in the context of debates concerning multiculturalism and 'Britishness'.
Source: Tariq Modood, Still Not Easy Being British: Struggles for a multicultural citizenship, Trentham Books
Links: Summary | Bristol University press release
Date: 2010-Sep
A report examined the future role of identity and belonging in society over the period to 2025, focusing on the implications for public services. Contributors considered whether familiar differentiators, such as race and faith, would become more important in determining people's sense of identity. They looked at whether communities would be better integrated, providing individuals with a greater sense of belonging – or whether the benefits would be unevenly distributed as some people became more isolated and marginalized.
Source: Mark Oaten, Julia Margo, Leon Murray, Pat Thane and Harris Beider, Public Service Futures 5: The Future of Identity and Belonging, Office of Public Management
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Sep
Research for the equal rights watchdog sought to identify the reasons for the rise in support for far-right politics. Respondents referred to three perceived threats in their lives: economic decline and migrant workers taking what they saw as 'British' jobs; the disintegration and segregation of communities that were previously ethnically mixed; and a 'raw deal' in the provision of jobs and services.
Source: Martin Boon, Understanding the Rise of the Far Right: Survey Results, Research Report 57, Equality and Human Rights Commission | Martin Boon, Understanding the Rise of the Far Right: Focus Group Results, Research Report 58, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Date: 2010-Jul
A think-tank report examined public policy questions that involved questions of identity. There was a need to recognize the complexity and variation that was inherent in this terrain. The best interventions might well come from 'scaling up' from the grassroots.
Source: Rick Muir and Margaret Wetherell, Identity, Politics and Public Policy, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Apr
The government set out its strategy for tackling race inequalities, and how this fitted in with the wider agendas on equalities and fairness. In an accompanying speech, the minister responsible said that substantial progress had been made in reducing racial inequality, and highlighted the importance of class in explaining the failure of some black and minority-ethnic communities to progress further.
Source: Tackling Race Inequality: A statement on race, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report | Speech | Hansard | DCLG press release | EHRC press release | TUC press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jan