A new book examined theories of integration and assimilation, particularly those focused on the native-born children of immigrants in Europe and the United States of America.
Source: Jens Schneider and Maurice Crul (eds.), Theorising Integration and Assimilation, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the extent to which increased ethnic heterogeneity in European countries would reduce public support for welfare policy (following the experience in the United States of America), based on survey data from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark.
Source: Christian Albrekt Larsen, 'Ethnic heterogeneity and public support for welfare: is the American experience replicated in Britain, Sweden and Denmark?', Scandinavian Political Studies, Volume 34 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
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
A study examined white working-class views on community cohesion and the impact of social change. There was a sense that the government was not listening to the concerns of white working-class communities and not interested in engagement. White working-class residents did not feel that they had been treated fairly by government. The sense of unfairness was most acute in terms of access to and allocation of social housing: the perception was that housing organizations rewarded groups who did not appear to make positive contributions to neighbourhoods. Community cohesion was perceived as being driven by central and local government, and as not connecting with the concerns of local communities: but residents welcomed the opportunity to discuss neighbourhood change and commonalities with minority groups living in the same neighbourhood. A linked report identified common findings from research on traditionally white estates, and suggested how issues of white identity could be better understood.
Source: Harris Beider, Community Cohesion: The Views of White Working-Class Communities, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Steve Garner, White Working-Class Neighbourhoods: Common themes and Policy Suggestions, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report | Findings | JRF press release | Garner report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2011-Nov
A think-tank report examined the responses of online supporters of European populist political parties and movements, looking at the reasons why people were motivated to join. It called on mainstream politicians to respond and address concerns over immigration and cultural identity without succumbing to xenophobic solutions.
Source: Jamie Bartlett, Jonathan Birdwell, and Mark Littler, The New Face of Digital Populism, Demos
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the community cohesion agenda of the New Labour governments (1997-2010). Three contrasting, yet overlapping, 'modes' of community cohesion were identified: communitarian, republican, and neoliberal. These prioritized (respectively) moral, political, and economic means of achieving greater cohesion.
Source: Vivien Lowndes and Leila Thorp, 'Interpreting "community cohesion": modes, means and mixes', Policy & Politics, Volume 39 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined the meaning and practice of community cohesion policies, youth identities in 'racially tense' areas, and government attempts to prevent violent extremism' among young Muslims. It concluded that community cohesion was a new phase of multiculturalism – not its death.
Source: Paul Thomas, Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary | ICC press release
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined the experiences of different women on a New Deal for Communities (NDC) board, including those from minority-ethnic groups. The NDC in the case study provided optimism about the possibility of including diverse groups and people in neighbourhood governance: but too little attention was still given at both national policy and neighbourhood levels to working politically and productively with concepts of ethnicity and gender.
Source: Yasminah Beebeejaun and Lucy Grimshaw, 'Is the "New Deal for Communities" a New Deal for Equality? Getting women on board in neighbourhood governance', Urban Studies, Volume 48 Number 10
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
A factsheet provided an overview of European Union education policies and their link to combating racism in education.
Source: EU Education Policies and Their Impact on Racism in Education, European Network Against Racism
Links: Factsheet
Date: 2011-Aug
A report examined whether it was possible to have solidarity in a diverse society. It said that, rather than seeing growing diversity as a threat to the welfare state, a strong welfare state could in fact create a sense of shared identity and solidarity.
Source: James Gregory, Diversity and Solidarity: Crisis, What Crisis?, Runnymede Trust
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A new book examined how wider trends in society had created a favourable climate for the far right; who voted for the far right and why; and why people joined and became actively involved in far right parties.
Source: Matthew Goodwin, New British Fascism: Rise of the British National Party, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
A study examined to what extent, and in what ways, Irish communities and Muslim communities were represented as 'suspect' in public discourse (over the period 1974-2007). It looked at the similarities and differences between the impact of media representations and counter-terrorism measures.
Source: Mary Hickman, Lyn Thomas, Sara Silvestri, and Henri Nickels, Suspect Communities ? Counter-terrorism policy, the press, and the impact on Irish and Muslim communities in Britain, Institute for the Study of European Transformations (London Metropolitan University)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper examined the challenge to social cohesion in European countries posed by immigration and a more diverse population. The welfare state played an important role in cultural and social integration.
Source: Gianni D Amato and Didier Ruedin, Social Cohesion Challenges in Europe, European University Institute (Florence)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
A report said that racism and intolerance were becoming rooted in European societies as the economic crisis gave strength to extremist messages. Racism was no longer limited to the fringes of society, and mainstream politicians were increasingly using xenophobic and anti-Muslim arguments and calling referendums targeting non-citizens and religious minorities.
Source: Annual Report on ECRI s Activities Covering the Period from 1 January to 31 December 2010, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance/Council of Europe
Links: Report | Council of Europe press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A report presented the findings from a research study into teaching methods – knowledge, skills, teaching practices, and behaviours – that helped to build resilience to 'extremism'.
Source: Joe Bonnell et al., Teaching Approaches that Help to Build Resilience to Extremism Among Young People, Research Report RR119, Department for Education
Links: Report | Brief | Literature review | NFER press release | ACT press release
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the problem of racism in Northern Ireland. It considered the effectiveness of the government's response to racism, and tested the assertion in the literature that sectarianism shaped the way in which racism was reproduced and experienced.
Source: Colin Knox, 'Tackling racism in Northern Ireland: "the race hate capital of Europe"', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined the effect of activity by Far Right groups on community cohesion. Tension monitoring was crucial to pre-empting the negative impact of campaigns by such groups: this required the whole community to work together to share communication, reduce tensions, and provide reassurance.
Source: Far Right Electoral and Other Activity: The Challenge for Community Cohesion, Institute of Community Cohesion (Coventry University)
Date: 2011-Apr
A paper examined whether ethnically mixed schools contributed to inter-ethnic tolerance, trust, and community cohesion in England, Sweden, and Germany. Greater diversity in the classroom did not always lead to increased ethnic tolerance among pupils: young white people were less well disposed towards immigrants when minority-ethnic groups were doing well.
Source: Jan Germen Janmaat, Classroom Diversity and Its Relation to Tolerance, Trust and Participation in England, Sweden and Germany, LLAKES Research Paper 4, Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies
Links: Paper | IOE press release
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the role of voluntary associations in policies that addressed ethnic conflict, where they were portrayed both as a source of division but also as part of a policy solution (based on research in Northern Ireland).
Source: Nick Acheson, 'A case of avoiding "political mumbo jumbo": do collective identities within ethnically diverse voluntary associations spill over to other contexts? Reflections on Northern Ireland's experience', Policy & Politics, Volume 39 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the relationship between ethnic diversity and social trust at both the national and the local level in Europe. Ethnic diversity – measured in terms of the size of the non-western immigrant population – did not appear to be associated with lower levels of trust in European societies.
Source: Henrik Lolle and Lars Torpe, 'Growing ethnic diversity and social trust in European societies', Comparative European Politics, Volume 9 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A report said that racism remained a deep-rooted problem in Europe in a broad range of areas – including employment, housing, education, health, policing, access to goods and services, and the media. The United Kingdom national report said that race intersected with a variety of other factors such as gender, class, and religion – with the result that disadvantage and discrimination could affect people's opportunities in life in complex ways.
Source: Jean-Pierre Gauci, Racism in Europe: ENAR Shadow Report 2009/2010, European Network Against Racism | Sarah Isal, Klara Schmitz, and Hannah Cooper, Racism and Discriminatory Practices in the United Kingdom, European Network Against Racism
Links: Report | ENAR press release | UK report
Date: 2011-Mar
A report evaluated the national pilot of the 'Schools Linking Network', designed to support the implementation of the duty on schools in England to promote community cohesion. Linking had the greatest positive impact when the children at the linked schools met two or more times a year. School linking could have a positive impact on many aspects of pupils' skills, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours – particularly respect for others, self-confidence, and 'self-efficacy'.
Source: David Kerr et al., Evaluation of the Schools Linking Network: Final Report, Research Report RR090, Department for Education
Links: Report | Brief | NFER press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A study examined how racism and anti-racism had changed across the three generations that had grown up with mass migration to the United Kingdom, based on research in Handsworth (Birmingham). The stereotypes of apathetic and disengaged youth were 'wide of the mark': young people had serious and often subtle things to say about how racism affected their lives and their life chances.
Source: Kamaljeet Gill and Kjartan Pall Sveinsson, Passing the Baton: Inter-generational conceptions of race and racism in Birmingham, Runnymede Trust
Links: Summary | Barrow Cadbury press release
Date: 2011-Feb
A paper examined an index used to establish the extent to which equality principles were being applied to immigrants to 31 countries in Europe and North America.
Source: Jan Niessen, Using MIPEX for Improving Integration Policies, Migration Policy Group
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined effective approaches against racism in work with young people. The concept of 'community cohesion' could offer a productive way forward to engage with racism.
Source: Paul Thomas and Tom Henri, 'Changing directions: young people and effective work against racism', Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 14 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
A report examined the effect on schools and local authorities in England of implementing the statutory duty to promote community cohesion. Use of the curriculum to promote community cohesion was widespread: one-half or more of all types of school said that they were using the curriculum and enrichment activities in equal measure.
Source: Chris Phillips, Daniel Tse, and Fiona Johnson, Community Cohesion and PREVENT: How Have Schools Responded?, Research Report RR085, Department for Education
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Feb
A report said that a new politics of identity, culture, and nation had grown out of the politics of race and immigration, and increasingly drove opinion in modern politics. There was a clear correlation between economic pessimism and negative attitudes towards immigration; and there was popular support for a sanitized, non-violent, and non-racist English nationalist political party. Far-right political views were not unpopular: they had simply not yet found a political articulation.
Source: Nick Lowles and Anthony Painter, Fear and HOPE: The new politics of identity, Searchlight Educational Trust
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
A new book examined the interrelationships and contradictions between community cohesion and counter-terrorism policies.
Source: Charles Husband and Yunis Alam, Social Cohesion and Counter-Terrorism: A policy contradiction?, Policy Press
Links: Summary
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 briefing paper examined policies aimed at preventing violent extremism and building resilient communities; the links between integration, shared values, and resilience; and the potential role of the 'Big Society' agenda in bringing about change.
Source: Ewan King and Sanah Sheikh, Resilience and Integration: A Way Forward, Office of Public Management
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the effect of ethnic diversity on measures of generalized and strategic trust. There was no effect of ethnic diversity on generalized trust. There was a statistically significant association between diversity and a measure of strategic trust: but in substantive terms, the effect was trivial and dwarfed by the effects of economic deprivation and the social connectedness of individuals.
Source: Patrick Sturgis, Ian Brunton-Smith, Sanna Read, and Nick Allum, 'Does ethnic diversity erode trust? Putnam's "hunkering down" thesis reconsidered', British Journal of Political Science, Volume 41 Issue 1
Links: Abstract | Essex University press release | ISER press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined the extent to which increased ethnic heterogeneity in European countries might undermine public support for social welfare policies.
Source: Christian Larsen, Ethnic Heterogeneity and Public Support for Welfare Policies: Is the 'black' American experience resembled in Britain, Sweden, and Denmark?, Working Paper 2011-68, Centre for Comparative Welfare Studies (Aalborg University)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan