A new book examined the legal, political, and educational challenges posed by migration-related religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity in European countries.
Source: Anna Triandafyllidou, Tariq Modood, and Nasar Meer (eds.), European Multiculturalisms: Cultural, religious and ethnic challenges, Edinburgh University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined academic engagements with policy on race through two case studies, both of which concerned racism and the police.
Source: Karim Murji, 'Race policy and politics: two case studies from Britain', Policy Studies, Volume 32 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A collection of essays by 'progressive conservatives' examined the Conservative party's race agenda. It considered the extent to which complex issues around race had been addressed, and what conservatives would do to resolve them.
Source: Max Wind-Cowie (ed.), Are We There Yet? A collection on race and conservatism, Demos
Date: 2011-Oct
A think-tank report said that multiculturalism could make an indispensable contribution to realizing a just society, and should not be equated with segregation, exclusion, and security threats.
Source: Jonathan Chaplin, Multiculturalism: A Christian Retrieval, Theos
Links: Report | Theos press release
Date: 2011-Oct
A think-tank report examined the rise of public support for 'populist extremist' parties in Europe, and recommended ways in which mainstream political parties could respond to the challenge.
Source: Matthew Goodwin, Right Response: Understanding and countering populist extremism in Europe, Chatham House
Links: Report | Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Sep
A United Nations report welcomed the 'notable efforts' by the United Kingdom to tackle racial discrimination and inequality, and acknowledged that 'important progress' had been made. But it expressed regret that some of the coalition government's policy responses to widespread public disorder in August 2011 might disproportionately affect groups from poor and minority-ethnic backgrounds – in particular, reported plans to remove the welfare benefits of those convicted but not jailed for riot-related offences, and to evict the families of those involved in the riots from social housing.
Source: Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 9 of the Convention: Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Nations
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the concepts and approaches to racial integration that were in use across Europe. It considered whether conceptual changes would lead to a better understanding of, and more effective policies on, integration. It proposed defining integration in terms of the 'engagement of citizens and residents in the promotion of the well-being of all in a diverse society', and analyzed examples of promising approaches and effective instruments.
Source: Kurt Richard Brekke, Rosella Levaggi, Luigi Siciliani, and Odd Rune Straume, Integration Beyond Migration: Kicking off the debate, European Network Against Racism
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
A report said that integration policies in Europe should be defined in terms of the engagement of citizens and residents in the promotion of the well-being of all in a diverse society. It described and analyzed examples of promising approaches and effective instruments.
Source: Alexandre Kirchberger and Jan Niessen, Integration Beyond Migration: Kicking off the debate, European Network Against Racism
Links: Report | MPG press release
Date: 2011-Jul
A new book challenged the narrative of the 'rise and fall' of multiculturalism. A coherent era of 'multiculturalism' had never existed.
Source: Alana Lentin and Gavan Titley, The Crises of Multiculturalism: Racism in a neoliberal age, Zed Books
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
The European Commission adopted an 'agenda' for the integration of third-country nationals, designed to enhance the economic, social, and cultural benefits of migration in Europe. The agenda emphasized migrants' full participation in all aspects of collective life and highlighted the key role of local authorities.
Source: European Agenda for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, European Commission
Links: Agenda | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the gap in support for multiculturalism between Europeans who claimed minority heritage and those who did not – taking into account levels of support for extreme right-wing parties. High levels of support for extreme right-wing parties appeared to have a polarizing effect, heightening awareness of personal heritage and making ethnic identity more salient in attitudes towards multiculturalism.
Source: Jessica Sprague-Jones, 'Extreme right-wing vote and support for multiculturalism in Europe', Ethnic and Racial Studies, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A report examined the implications of popular concern over culture, migration, and identity for the future of European social democracy.
Source: Tim Bale et al., Exploring the Cultural Challenges to Social Democracy: Anti-migration populism, identity and community in an age of insecurity, Policy Network
Date: 2011-May
A collection of essays (by doctoral students) explored the increasing complexity of race and ethnicity in Britain.
Source: Claire Alexander and Malcolm James (eds.), New Directions New Voices: Emerging research on race and ethnicity, Runnymede Trust
Links: Report
Date: 2011-May
A new book examined issues relating to migration, integration, social cohesion, and 'Britishness'. Religion, in the form of aspects of Muslim behaviour, was becoming a boundary of Britishness at a time when significant sections of the ethnic majority displayed scepticism about multiculturalism.
Source: Tariq Modood and John Salt (eds.), Global Migration, Ethnicity and Britishness, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary | Bristol University press release
Date: 2011-Apr
A study examined the desirability and feasibility of developing guidance to help decide when and how ethnicity should be included in research projects that were relevant to social policy.
Source: Sarah Salway et al., Ethnic Diversity and Inequality: Ethical and Scientific Rigour in Social Research, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the theoretical principles that the Labour governments (1997-2010) employed in their citizenship and multicultural policies.
Source: Nam-Kook Kima, 'Deliberative multiculturalism in New Labour's Britain', Citizenship Studies, Volume 15 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
The Prime Minister said (in a speech in Germany) that the 'doctrine of state multiculturalism' had encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and apart from the mainstream. There had been a failure to provide a vision of society to which they felt they wanted to belong. Segregated communities had been allowed to behave in ways that ran 'completely counter' to 'our' values. Tolerance had left some young Muslims (specifically) feeling rootless, creating conditions for the growth of violent extremism.
Source: Speech by David Cameron MP (Prime Minister), 5 February 2011
Links: Speech | Accord Coalition press release | GMB press release | ICC press release | IRR press release | MCB press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
A report examined two local authorities' responses – in Manchester (United Kingdom) and Copenhagen (Denmark) – to increased ethnic diversity. Nationally imposed approaches were often unhelpful, and the rhetoric of ethnic diversity policy-making could stifle local state actors' work and their ability to formulate policy responses that were creative and relevant to the local economy and population.
Source: Jessica Smith, Where Next for Ethnic Diversity Policymaking at the Local Level? Lessons from a comparative study of Manchester and Copenhagen, Centre for Local Economic Strategies
Links: Report | CLES press release
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined controversies surrounding the wearing of the veil by Muslim women in Europe. The historical vestiges of discrimination in immigration and citizenship laws persisted in the scrutiny of the cultural affiliations and practices of aspiring immigrants and citizens.
Source: Siobhan Mullally, 'Civic integration, migrant women and the veil: at the limits of rights?', The Modern Law Review, Volume 74 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A new book examined the ways in which European Union law affected the protection of minority rights. Binding European standards only existed in the sphere of non-discrimination, and were at their strongest in the field of employment: as such, they affected only a small proportion of the canon of minority rights. But the EU did have a general competence to promote diversity and facilitate the redistribution of power and resources – essential underpinnings for minority protection.
Source: Tawhida Ahmed, The Impact of EU Law on Minority Rights, Hart Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jan