The government published a progress report on action taken in response to an all-party report (2006) on antisemitism. Measures taken included tighter security measures in Jewish faith schools within the state sector.
Source: All-Party Inquiry into Antisemitism: Government Response – Three Years on Progress Report, Cm 7991, Department for Communities and Local Government/TSO
Links: Report | Hansard | DCLG press release | Liberal Democrats press release
Date: 2010-Dec
A think-tank report examined what community organizations in two United Kingdom cities (Birmingham and London) – along with Madrid and New York – were doing to alleviate tensions and build bridges between people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Community organizations were limited in what they could do: there was also a role for governments to supplement these efforts. Governments should 'community proof' all areas of their activity by assessing the likely impact of new policies on existing social networks.
Source: Sandra Gruescu and Verena Menne, Bridging Differences: What communities and government can do to foster social capital, Social Market Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Dec
An article examined the Welsh Assembly Government's consultation on social cohesion strategy. Strong and cohesive communities were presented in the consultation document as both the cause of, and the solution to, social dislocation, although it was implied that cohesive minority communities were really the problem. 'Mixed' communities were proposed as a remedy – although minority populations were already more ethnically mixed than the majority 'white' population. The very wealthy were the most segregated group: but this was not discussed as a problem. The consultation failed to identify those policies which actively undermined social cohesion. Neither 'community' nor cohesion was clearly defined, and ideas of equality were confused with social integration.
Source: Robert Moore, 'The Welsh Assembly Government's social cohesion strategy: a world without sociology?', Contemporary Wales, Volume 23 Number 1
Links: Abstract
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
A study found that what people thought about their neighbourhood was much more strongly influenced by deprivation than by the degree of ethnic mixing in the area. Although initiatives to promote cohesion were valuable, policy should give priority to improving disadvantaged areas.
Source: Liz Twigg and John Mohan, Exploring the Goodhart Thesis at the Local Scale: Neighbourhood social heterogeneity and perceptions of quality of life in the British Crime Survey, Economic and Social Research Council
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Sep
A report reviewed an interactive research project undertaken with residents of two traditionally white estates in Bradford (a northern city). The study explored the residents' perceptions of community and attitudes towards participation, both on the estates and with external agencies. The research considered why the government had been unable to generate self-sustaining improvements in these kinds of settings.
Source: Jenny Pearce and Elisabeth-Jane Milne, Participation and Community on Bradford's Traditionally White Estates, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2010-Jul
A study examined the role of women and faith in building cohesive communities. It explored how faith identity and religious beliefs could influence community cohesion and the development of shared values; and it identified key issues for the inclusion of women within communities and in leadership positions.
Source: Ghazala Mir, John Lawler and Mary Godfrey, Women, Faith and Social Cohesion, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2010-Jul
A report examined the factors that either enhanced or undermined community cohesion in two local wards in Bradford (a northern city) – one where there were established Muslim communities and another where Muslim migrants had recently arrived.
Source: Yunas Samad, Muslims and Community Cohesion in Bradford, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2010-Jul
A report examined the role that the voluntary and community sector played in fostering and promoting strong community cohesion. It also highlighted the role of local government in supporting this through effective partnership, engagement, and funding arrangements.
Source: Sarah Hewes and Alessandra Buonfino with Rushanara Ali and Geoff Mulgan, Cohesive Communities: The benefits of effective partnership working between local government and the voluntary and community sector, Improvement and Development Agency
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jul
An article examined whether human rights values and legislation could be used as tools for community cohesion.
Source: Theo Gavrielides, 'The new politics of community cohesion: making use of human rights policy and legislation', Policy & Politics, Volume 38 Number 3 Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jul
An audit report reviewed the data systems used to support delivery of the Labour government's public service agreement 21 – to 'build more cohesive, empowered and active communities' – over the period from 2008.
Source: Review of the Data Systems for Public Service Agreement 21, National Audit Office
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jun
A report examined the role of public services in reducing inequality and promoting cohesion.
Source: Paul Buddery, Zubaida Haque, Peter Taylor-Gooby and Polly Vizard, Equality, Cohesion and Public Services, 2020 Public Services Trust
Links: Report | Runnymede Trust press release
Date: 2010-Jun
A report examined the attitudes and experiences of young people aged 16 in relation to minority-ethnic groups in Northern Ireland, and identified interventions needed in order to build cohesion between different groups.
Source: Attitudes to Difference: Young people's attitudes to, and experiences of, contact with people from different minority ethnic and migrant groups in Northern Ireland, National Children's Bureau Northern Ireland/ARK
Links: Report | NIE press release
Date: 2010-May
An article examined third sector organizations and groupings that aimed to increase interpersonal contacts between people of different faiths and/or ethnic groups in urban areas of England. It considered the potential role of the third sector in responding to a diverse society.
Source: Margaret Harris and Patricia Young, 'Building bridges: the third sector responding locally to diversity', Voluntary Sector Review, Volume 1 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
A think-tank report said that it was not immigration that was the main driver of support for the far-right British National Party, but alienation and an inability to overcome social challenges such as isolation and low skills.
Source: Exploring the Roots of BNP Support, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report | IPPR press release | Runnymede Trust press release | Guardian report | Ekklesia report
Date: 2010-Apr
A report examined the roles of civil society associations in encouraging dialogue and deliberation; and the challenges they faced in this work.
Source: Ute Kelly, Civil Society Supporting Dialogue and Deliberation, Carnegie UK Trust
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Apr
A lecture examined the role of cities in managing cultural difference, and in particular the potential significance of the urban infrastructure in regulating relations between strangers.
Source: Ash Amin, Cities and the Ethic of Care for the Stranger, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Lecture
Date: 2010-Mar
A report said that it was not the number of new migrants that caused tension in neighbourhoods, but rather a failure to manage integration properly. The two key drivers of integration were employment and fluency in the host language: minor provisions in these areas would benefit the integration of new migrants across all aspects of life.
Source: Zubaida Haque, What Works with Integrating New Migrants?, Runnymede Trust
Links: Runnymede Trust press release
Date: 2010-Mar
A report examined the incidence of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and intolerance in the United Kingdom. It said that positive steps had been made in fighting discrimination: but it also expressed concern that racist incidents had become more frequent, police powers were exercised in a manner that disproportionately affected minority groups, Gypsies and Travellers still faced serious discrimination, and asylum-seekers remained in a vulnerable position.
Source: ECRI Report on the United Kingdom (Fourth Monitoring Cycle), Council of Europe
Links: Report | Council of Europe press release
Date: 2010-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that the 'Prevent' programme (the government's strategy to limit the development of violent extremism) had stigmatized and alienated those it was most important to engage, and tainted many positive community cohesion projects.
Source: Preventing Violent Extremism, Sixth Report (Session 2009-10), HC 65, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | MCB press release | Runnymede Trust press release | IRR press release | ICC press release | BHA press release | BBC report | New Start report
Date: 2010-Mar
The government published guidance on the commitment of national and local government to building cohesion. It said that solutions were local, and that 'one size did not fit all'. Cohesion was about all parts of the community, not just race and faith issues. Improving cohesion was about multiple actions tackling a range of causal factors.
Source: Cohesion Delivery Framework 2010: Overview, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Guidance | Inside Housing report
Date: 2010-Mar
An article examined multiculturalism and free speech. It explored the various meanings given to multiculturalism, integration, and assimilation, as well as the relationship between the right to equality and dignity for ethnic and religious minorities and the right to freedom of expression. It said that the approach to integration and cultural diversity should promote equality and individuality, but should resist unreasonable demands to respect customs and practices that, for example, harmed the rights of women and children, in the name of misguided multiculturalism.
Source: Anthony Lester, 'Multiculturalism and free speech', Political Quarterly, Volume 81 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
A report said that Chinese-origin people in the United Kingdom experienced substantial racism – perhaps as much as or more than any other minority-ethnic group.
Source: Sue Adamson et al., Hidden from Public View? Racism against the UK's Chinese population, The Monitoring Group/ London Civil Rights & Arts Centre
Links: Report | DCLG press release
Date: 2010-Feb
A report used data from the 2008-09 Citizenship Survey in England and Wales to provide an in-depth examination of community cohesion, attitudes towards the neighbourhood and the local area, belonging to the neighbourhood, fear of crime, social networks, and interactions between people from different backgrounds.
Source: Cheryl Lloyd, 2008-09 Citizenship Survey: Community Cohesion Topic Report, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Feb
A paper set out the principles and policies of the opposition Conservative Party on community cohesion. It outlined a vision of a multi-ethnic society free from an 'over-interfering state', with an emphasis on the promotion of shared British values. It said that a British Bill of Rights should be introduced to help achieve national unity. The paper also included responses from academic experts.
Source: Dominic Grieve MP, Conservatism and Community Cohesion, Runnymede Trust
Links: Paper | Runnymede Trust press release
Date: 2010-Jan