The "dis-integration" of ethnic minorities?
From Future of Local Services to the Public
Contents |
Summary
Greater population flows, higher birth rates, cultural resistance to integration, and inadequate or ineffective integration policies might combine to increase the de facto segregation of minority communities from mainstream society in Western countries. Major cities could be most affected, with shifts in the source of tax revenues having a significant impact on the ability of local authorities to deliver services to all citizens. Division between groups could cause animosity, marginalise minorities and perpetuate social ills.
Ethnic minorities currently account for 7.1% (2000) of the total population in the United Kingdom. This population is growing much faster than the white population. Many minority groups face a range of issues integrating into society including barriers to housing, education and employment. Recent tensions over issues such as the wearing of religious symbols have highlighted the problems inherent in managing diversity successfully in increasingly cosmopolitan societies.
Impacts
- The rise of single issue political parties/candidates in future elections; ethnic, racial and religious civic bodies may increasingly to represent their 'people' which could concentrate power, stereotypes, and social divides.
- Divides and de facto segregation could limit understanding and probably political participation, making it harder to build broad and useful representative policies.
- Growing mismatch between the location of housing and jobs may emerge and worsen pressures on de facto segregation.
- Some minority groups could be consistently unemployed, though the income levels of some new immigrant communities are actually higher than the average, disproportionately sustained at the upper end of the income spectrum.
- Problems associated with “ghetto-isation” due to declines in tax revenue. This could lead to increases in crime rates and other social ills and could contribute to more hostile attitudes towards immigration and asylum.
- Highly localized problems could lead to strong urban/rural divides as well as questions involving national unity and devolution of government powers.
- Religion and nationalism are increasingly likely to be flashpoints as global political issues are played out at a national and local level.
Relevance
- A significant variation between minority ethnic groups suggests that each group could generate separate and distinct policy responses from government.
- Policy makers should not overlook the positive benefits of a settled minority ethnic community, especially in inner city areas where minority ethnic groups are concentrated.
- Urban planning, including the growth of suburban housing without an expansion of the city core can exacerbate de facto segregation between groups, including ethnic minorities, though urban regeneration can benefit from settled minority communities.
- Slums are often the first stopping point for immigrants as they provide low-cost housing that enable immigrants to save. Minorities residing in these areas often have fewer healthcare benefits and less access to quality education at all levels.
- Interventions to address these issues may be made more difficult by barriers to equal and inclusive participation by minorities in political institutions.
- Immigration and asylum policy (and perceptions thereof) may impact public willingness to adopt certain initiatives to address and contend with minority ghetto-isation. (The establishment of community centres catering to a specific minority group and lack of availability of specific religious services could force some groups to locate around one particular area.)
References
Links
Sigma Scan (2006) Divided we fall?: The “dis-integration” of ethnic minorities, ID 149
