A study examined the work of a grassroots organization in West Bowling, Bradford (northern England). It highlighted the impact made in building social capital, developing active citizenship, and encouraging participation in neighbourhood life; and the need for sustainability and flexibility in effective engagement with young British Muslim Pakistani men.
Source: Santokh Singh Gill with the WBYI, Lessons from West Bowling Youth Initiative: Then, now and the future, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined the social distribution of prejudice against black and Asian Britons. Three hypotheses were proposed and tested: that racial prejudice was declining in Britain; that this decline was principally generational in nature; and that greater prejudice was shown towards more culturally distinct Asian minorities than black minorities. Strong evidence was found for the first two hypotheses, with evidence of an overall decline in prejudice and of a sharp decline in prejudice among generations who had grown up since mass black and Asian immigration began in the 1950s. Little evidence was found for the third hypothesis: British reactions towards black and Asian minorities were broadly similar, suggesting that racial differences might still be the main factor prompting white hostility to British minorities.
Source: Robert Ford, 'Is racial prejudice declining in Britain?', British Journal of Sociology, Volume 59 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined whether there was a causal link between 'race' hate, particularly Islamophobia, and media treatment of Muslim communities. 'Race' hate and routine attacks on Muslim communities appeared to be increasing, and needed to be addressed by developing strategies that were inclusive of all disadvantaged communities.
Source: Diane Frost, 'Islamophobia: examining causal links between the media and "race hate" from "below"', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 28 Issue 11/12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
A study examined levels of cohesion in a single housing estate (in a northern city, Bradford) with low numbers of minority-ethnic groups. It examined the experience of new residents from minority backgrounds recently housed in the area, as well as service providers and long-term residents. A second report examined lessons from a local project to improve cross-cultural relationships.
Source: Huw Illingworth, Findings from the Holme Wood Development Project 2007/08: Demographic changes and effects, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241) | Andrew Orton, Evaluating Cross-community Work in Holme Wood: Making connections?, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report (1) | Report (2)
Date: 2008-Dec
A survey examined social attitudes among people in Wales, together with their experiences of discrimination, harassment, and victimization. Respondents aged 70 and over were more than three times as likely as those aged 16-29 to agree that only white people could be truly Welsh. Respondents living in workless households were more likely than others to strongly disagree with the statement that Muslims who lived in Wales make a positive contribution to society.
Source: Social Attitudes in Wales: Results from the Living in Wales Survey 2007, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Nov
A report examined research literature on school actions to promote community cohesion.
Source: Alan Dyson and Frances Gallannaugh, School-level Actions to Promote Community Cohesion: A scoping map, Report 1613, EPPI-Centre/Social Science Research Unit/Institute of Education/University of London (020 7612 6050)
Date: 2008-Oct
A new book examined how new dimensions of diversity and difference were emerging at the neighbourhood level. Topics covered included new immigration, religion and social capital, faith schools, labour and housing market disconnexions, neighbourhood territoriality, information technology and neighbourhood construction, and gated communities.
Source: John Flint and David Robinson (eds.), Community Cohesion in Crisis? New dimensions of diversity and difference, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jul
The government published guidance to 'local cohesion practitioners', designed to help them understand the concept of cohesion, map their local communities to identify possible cohesion issues, and develop action plans to address those challenges.
Source: Cohesion Delivery Framework: Overview, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Guidance | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
The government announced a package of measures designed to support the promotion of citizenship and shared values and to stop Islamic theology being abused by those who sought to divide communities. Measures included: supporting increased take-up of citizenship teaching in mosque schools; strengthening theological understanding; and a renewed focus on the importance of local council and community leadership.
Source: Preventing Violent Extremism: Next steps for communities, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report | DCLG press release | Christian Institute press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2008-Jul
A study found that children as young as five understood issues regarding integration and separation. The ethnic composition of primary schools had a direct impact on children's attitudes towards those in other ethnic groups, and on their ability to get on with their peers.
Source: Rupert Brown, Adam Rutland and Charles Watters, Identities in Transition: A longitudinal study of immigrant children, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report | ESRC press release | NSS press release
Date: 2008-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that local councils had been given insufficient money by the government to meet the cost of dealing with a rising number of migrant workers. The government's migration policy also needed to take into account the effect of migration on community cohesion.
Source: Community Cohesion and Migration, Tenth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 369, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Shelter press release | UCU press release | Liberal Democrats press release | FT report | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
A study examined the relationship between recent immigration and social cohesion, in the context of other social and economic transformations that affected everyday life. Addressing deprivation and how people connected was more important for social cohesion than trying to get everyone to adhere to the same fixed notion of 'Britishness'.
Source: Mary Hickman, Helen Crowley and Nick Mai, Immigration and Social Cohesion in the UK: The rhythms and realities of everyday life, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release | UNISON press release | NAR press release | Telegraph report | BBC report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2008-Jul
A study examined the challenges to be addressed if government policies to promote community engagement were to be genuinely inclusive of newcomers as well as more established communities. Community engagement and community cohesion were both existing public policy priorities: but there had been gaps in knowledge about how to promote community representation in ways that took account of diversity and population change.
Source: Geraldine Blake et al., Community Engagement and Community Cohesion, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2008-Jun
The government published guidance designed to help and support local authorities, schools, community groups, and the police to tackle violent extremism and prevent 'radicalization' in communities.
Source: Preventing Violent Extremism: A strategy for delivery, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Guidance | Home Office press release | ACPO press release | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jun
A think-tank report said that segregation between communities seemed to be growing in some parts of the country. Extremism, both political and religious, was on the rise as people became more disillusioned and disconnected. The report examined how sustainable and cohesive communities could be built at both local and national level.
Source: Nick Johnson (ed.), Citizenship, Cohesion and Solidarity, Smith Institute (020 7592 3618)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
A report said that the print media's reporting of violent crime stirred racist tension. It identified clearly different approaches to reporting of crime, dependent on whether the victim or perpetrator were black or white. These approaches served to influence public opinion and policy, and contributed to the reinforcement of racist stereotypes.
Source: Kjartan Pall Sveinsson, A Tale of Two Englands: 'Race' and violent crime in the press, Runnymede Trust (020 7377 9222)
Links: Report | Runnymede Trust press release
Date: 2008-Apr
A report examined the relationship between public participation, community cohesion, and empowerment. Drawing on a literature review and the experiences and insights of a broad range of people from local and central government, academia, and third sector organizations, it explored how local authorities and communities could best work together towards greater cohesion.
Source: Stella Creasy, Karin Gavelin and Dominic Potter, Everybody Needs Good Neighbours? A study of the link between public participation and community cohesion, Involve (020 7632 0120)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Apr
A report said that schools that had predominantly white or Asian pupils could damage local communities and should be avoided. Non-mixed schools perpetuated extremist attitudes among white pupils, and did not prepare Muslim Asians for possible prejudice later. (Researchers questioned a sample of young people in Burnley in the wake of the town's 2001 riots.)
Source: Alan Billings and Andrew Holden, Interfaith Interventions and Cohesive Communities: The effectiveness of interfaith activity in towns marked by enclavisation and parallel lives, Department of Religious Studies/Lancaster University (01524 592425)
Links: Report | Lancaster University press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Feb
A report summarized the findings of a study to systematically examine the socio-demographic and attitudinal predictors of community cohesion, both at the individual and the community level. Once other factors were accounted for ethnic diversity was, in most cases, positively associated with community cohesion. However, the relationship between diversity and cohesion was complicated, and the nature of this relationship was dependent on the type of ethnic mix in an area.
Source: James Laurence and Anthony Heath, Predictors of Community Cohesion: Multi-level modelling of the 2005 Citizenship Survey, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Date: 2008-Feb
An article examined 'cultures of mixing' – relationships between partners from different ethnic backgrounds – based on 2001 British Census data. The data was used to show how 'mixed' partnerships were relevant to aspects of debates about the nature of ethnic relations. Cultures of mixing were spatially and socially uneven, and appeared to be underpinned by more material and equity-based features of social life and provision.
Source: Chamion Caballero, Rosalind Edwards and Darren Smith, 'Cultures of mixing: understanding partnerships across ethnicity', Twenty-first Century Society, Volume 3 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Feb