1 Problematising diversity and integration: what are the alternatives? Floya Anthias Professor of Sociology, University of East London Visiting Professor, City University, London

2 The argument of my paper Integration and diversity discourses and practices involve boundary-making and hierarchy-making processes; they are premised on a boundary between ‘us’ and ‘them Difference is hailed and dangerous or deficit diversities are identified. Suffer from too much focus on culture and this is elided with belonging. I discuss the utility of an intersectional lens, solidarity and interculturality as ways forward.

Integration: some issues Beyond the national context: a transnational lens for addressing questions of ‘integration’, diversity and belonging Coherence of policies: jeopardised by migration controls and discourses of securitisation assumptions about homogeneous values in society: problem of assimilationism

4 Us and Them ‘Society is unity in diversity’, George Herbert Mead (1929) What are the ‘uses of diversity’, Clifford Geertz (2001). Who is the figure that needs to be integrated? What is that to which this figure needs to be integrated into? Both the notion of diversity and integration are premised on a boundary between ‘us’ and ‘them’ The perverse diverse

Tropes of diversity and integration Danger Deviance Deficit Disgust 5

6 Diversity Problem of questions posed: identifies difference and sorts it our hierarchically How much difference and of what kind is compatible with a cohesive society? How much diversity can a society tolerate before it is in danger of disintegrating?

7 Integration Integration: all encompassing and highly ideological notion Assumes integration into a given social fabric (despite the idea of two-way integration embodied in the UK and EU frameworks). Elision between civic integration and the existence of a ‘community’ ie postulates the need for shared cultural values and close bonds (Gemeinschaft). Leads to perspectives that are assimilationist.

8 Key assumptions of new integration policies Deficit approach to minorities/newcomers (a gold standard of the social being embodied by the dominant subject). Speaking other languages (of particular types but not European) seen as a handicap and replacement by dominant language seen as essential There is no room for dialogue or negotiation about core values Diversity of values is dangerous Tackle exclusion through tackling difference Acculturation sought as a security issue (particularly directed at Muslims)

9 Culturalisation Museumised and rucksack view of culture Focuses on undesirable aspects of culture, many gendered eg ‘honour’ crimes, forced marriages. Demonise culture of some groups (danger and deviance).

Culture as mode of struggle Cultural values, traditions, rituals and beliefs used for new ends e.g. the veil for Muslim women. Cultural struggles, manifested in mother tongue classes or in setting up faith or complementary schools (ethnic schooling) can also be a means of refusing to be dominated by Western values or the values of the destination country. They are also ways of establishing solidarity within the migrant group that often faces particular social challenges, including racism and lack of mobilisable cultural capital. 10

11 Belonging, culture, identity Sharing values does not always mean you identify OR that you have a sense of belonging OR that you are eligible to belong in all contexts. Similarly, you may identify but not feel that you ‘belong’ in the sense of being accepted or a full member. You may feel that you are accepted and ‘belong’ but not identify, or your allegiances may be split. Belonging unlike identity presupposes access and opportunities, involving citizenship practices and entitlements, particularly in relation to place,

Complex Belongings Multidimensional with many meanings Impossible to give one definition: different foci For majorities often taken for granted Always has political dimension and negotiated and struggled over when it becomes activated Experiential, organisational, intersubjective and representational forms. 12

13 Complex Belonging: As Praxis constructed by attributions, practices, representations, identifications and memberships within variety of social categories and their combinatory. Experiences of social inclusion: being part of the social fabric and associated feelings of safety, opportunities and access to resources (experiential and affective). It is also about practices. We express our belonging through our practices and our practices give rise to our sense of belonging. But our practices linked to practices of range of social actors: ranging from state, judiciary, organisations, employment and so on. Need a political economy approach to belonging Strategic use of belonging: for claims and resources

Strategies and struggles of belonging political strategies for representation and to exclude. Apply to second generation and youth both in terms of wider society and their own ethnic/familial context discourses and practices of power and struggles around them. Again apply to both external and internal dynamics struggle around who belongs and the criteria used. This includes cultural criteria, legal entitlement (as in nationality) and religious faith or others such as behaving in appropriate ways (eg women within ethnic groups). meeting right criteria, racialised and gendered criteria (eg points system in Britain for entry)

15 Non binary versions of belonging How to think of non exclusionary or boundary making belobngings. Solidarity: values,experiences and practices of support and a common purpose can be forged for different struggles; May give rise to identities of action forged agonistically.

16 Translocational positionalities and belongings Belongings linked to translocational positionalities. Existence of dialogical, contradictory and shifting belongings across local and national contexts and in relation to different social locations and social divisions. Our positionality relates to taking up positionings Relational to context (space, time, place) and meaning as well as ‘interest’ and values, goals and projects. These intersect with the narratives and discourses we have available (as regulatory regimes).

Beyond ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: reframing ‘integration’ Social Solidarity: bonds irrespective of difference and a common future Interculturality: dialogue and transformation Intersectionality: articulation of belongings and inequalities relating to migration, gender, class, ethnicity, racialisation...

Active citizenship: Policy implications Access Participation Parity Belonging

19 Concluding remarks Diversity and integration discourses and practices Janus faced and likely to fail. Undermined by migration and securitisation discourses and practices Impact of labour market policies and curtailed welfare rights. Stratified labour markets and issue of legal and citizenship rights. More joined up policies and enabling measures of a more universalising character but which are geared to differential needs rather than focusing on categories of deficit. Tackling ‘othering’, racism and xenophobia in local and national organisational settings. Focus on social practices of equalisation.