Beyond the Commission on Integration and Cohesion

• The future for good race relations

Nick JohnsonDirector of Policy Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo)

Tuesday 20th May 2008

Key part of public policy debate• 2001 disturbances and Cantle report• Diversity & solidarity debate• Multiculturalism vs Integration• CRE’s integration agenda• 7/7 and PVE agenda• Commission on Integration & Cohesion

But where have we got to?• Socially• Public opinion• Data• Opinion• Politically

A changing world….. • In 1965 75m people lived outside the

home country, now 180m • 600,000 Brits live in Spain, more in other

countries (200,000 NZ); 3m with second homes

• Travel: 25m tourists to UK• Globalisation in many forms: international

students, brands, internet etc.

But are we comfortable with diversity?• Riots in France, Australia and other

countries • Demands to limit migration• Rise of extremism• Divisions & tensions within communities &

neighbourhoods • More change to come

How is Britain doing? • ‘White flight’ from cities to rural areas

- changing population composition• Schools becoming more polarised• Persistent inequalities • BNP vote consistent – c.10%• Not dealing well with migration

politically and practically

Worsening public attitudes

42%

39%

29%

20%

17%

15%

12%

11%

10%

10%

9%

Immigration remains the most important issue facing Britain

Top mentions – Q1/2 combined

Base c 1000 British adults

Q1 What would you say is the single most important issue facing Britain today?Q2 What would you say are the other important issues facing Britain today?

Combining mentions of immigration, asylum and race relations increases figure to 47% - detailed in topline

Crime/law & order

Defence/foreign affairs

NHS/Hospitals

Education/schools

Housing

Economy

Unemployment

Pollution/environment

Drug abuse

Immigration/immigrants

Asylum seekers

51%

25%

31%

39%

Immigration makes Britain open to ideas and cultures

Immigration increases crime rates

20031995

Source: BSA 2004/5

Change95-03

-20

+14

% agreeing with statements

Big shift to negative view of social consequences of immigration

Upsurge in admitted racial prejudice

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1985 1996

• Disagree/Agree that Britain is losing its culture

41

24

28

27

25

24

20

30

33

36

39

50

66

61

59

61

65

62

57

53

London

Scotland

E Midlands

South East

North West

Wales

Eastern

South West

Yorks&HumberNorth East

“A political struggle for the correct position rather than (or in addition to) a

technical struggle with recalcitrant numerical data”

The Index Wars

• Between1991-2001 Census data shows that the White population reduced by:

• 43,000 in Manchester

• 90,000 in Birmingham

• 340,000 in London

• Over the same period, the BME population increased by:

• 15,000 in Manchester

• 58,000 in Birmingham

• 600,000 in London

Government paints positive picture• 82% say that area is a place where people of

different backgrounds get on well togetherBut…• Social capital measures hint at a different

story• London scores 84% on the above rating• Yet just 21 % know, speak to & trust

neighbours

And…

A polarised debate

Sleepwalking to segregation

Parallel Lives

Too diverse?

Sleepwalking to

simplicity

Myth of segregation

An emerging consensus?

Key components• Need to focus on uniting not dividing• Meaningful interaction is key• Citizenship needs to be promoted• Inequality and deprivation are crucial

factors• Local solutions

Migration not well-managed • Managed migration in economic terms

but little attention to social & community

• Resources conflicts are real, data limited and ‘churn’ under-estimated

• Focus on rural areas, new for migration• Reinforcing segregation?

Super Diversity: Managing the interface

• Between and within communities • No longer a black v white issue• Between generations• Conflict resolution and intervention • Extremism Issue – and understanding

diversity within communities

Cohesion and Integration are about• Promoting a common sense of

belonging • Valuing diversity• Tackling disadvantage and inequalities• Promoting interaction in the workplace,

schools and neighbourhoods

A new picture of ourselves

The challenge of cohesion • What does it mean in Brighton, Bradford

or Barking? And in rural areas too.• Continue to tackle unequal life chances,

poverty & disaffection • Problem is poor housing, education, life

chances not diversity• And create a sense of belonging• Stressing common good rather than

individualism

Local Challenges• Eliminate inequalities• Break down segregated communities• Weaken fear of difference• Emphasis on ‘place making’ and ‘local

citizenship’ • ‘where you are’, not ‘where you are from’• Create a sense of belonging

Some vital measures• Solving the data problem

– mapping community dynamics – change in number & settlement patterns

• Structural changes & funding regimes– encourage people & organisations to co-operate

• English language provision• Citizenship

People who settle in this country should have citizenship lessons about the British way of life % Agree% Disagree

Net agree+%

77

5822

13

EMG

All +64

+36

77

7610

10

EMG

All +67

+66

Immigrants to Britain who do not speak English should be made to learn English

Base: All GB adults , aged 16+ (822) All EMG adults, aged 16+ (649)

Developing mixed communities • Planning mixed communities – existing

areas & new developments • Thinking about employment and

enterprise opportunities, cultural and other facilities

• Developing shared spaces

Working across communities • Examples such as school twinning, sports &

arts programmes, inter-faith networks, youth projects

• Create shared experiences, shared spaces, to develop understanding, trust & shared values

• Making it sustainable – social capital and civil society

• And making it mainstream – in schools, in regeneration schemes, in the workplace etc

Leadership -requires vision & political will

The Policy Framework• Bring agendas together

–Social capital, multiculturalism, integration, cohesion, equalities, citizenship, place-making etc…

• About how we live together–Equality of opportunity, meaningful

interaction between people and active participation in society

The lessons• Mainstream – cohesion must be core• Must not ignore inequalities• But more of a focus on bringing people

together• Through core services not add-on

programmes• Leadership and positive narrative