1. Community Cohesion in Diverse Britain

2. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road Ted Cantle Associate Director, IDeA Professor, Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo)

3. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road….. …. ‘speed neighbour dating’ in Barking and Dagenham. Is this the latest twist in the road….

4. …..Or, the way ahead? Because it is necessary And appears to work And it is countering prejudice and changing attitudes

5. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road A rose tinted picture of the 60s – not so swinging The 1965 and 68 Act were intended to promote ‘good relations’

6. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road But focus was on rights and justice ‘Black’ represented a political movement, not just an ethnicity But became a defensive focus on process, micro managing behaviour, not a celebration of ‘cultural pluralism’

7. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road We were defensive – and minorities needed to be defended Though, also some creative traits – ethnic monitoring, positive action, contract compliance, etc

8. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road And the processes did succeed in some respects, though inequality remains And perhaps at the expense of embedding parallel paths, and separate provision And failed to challenge underlying prejudices; unwillingness to debate seen as ‘correctness’

9. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road 2001 Reports found ‘parallel lives’ But also that no value had been placed on diversity And lack of leadership, unwilling to challenge prejudices Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela did ‘vision’ – where was ours?

10. Multiculturalism: The Ever Winding Road Since 2001, pace of change even greater – Broader diversity – 300 languages in London schools More population mobility and ‘churn’ New patterns of identity; growth of diasporas

11. Multiculturalism, Identity and ‘Difference’ From ‘race’ to ethnicity, to ever finer grades of ethno national culture and faith (and ‘Black’ no longer represents solidarity) But ‘difference’ is in us all – gender, (dis)ability, orientation, health, age …. Make the connections – the basis of EHRC

12. Multiculturalism and ‘Difference’ Not lose focus on any one strand but recognise they are entwined, particularly in insular communities – don’t dismiss - challenge and provide shared experiences. Diversity is good, but not all ‘difference’ is tolerable or should be respected And ‘mixed race’ has mixed response

13. Little learning from other countries Multiculturalism in Europe …and the growth of the far right, (not liberal in any strand) 2008 is year of ICD Putting up ‘two way street’ signs – eg foreign workers debate; tourism (70m from UK); international students; 2 nd homes etc The inevitable consequence of globalisation – what happened to internationalism?

14. Learning the lessons of the past Underlying inequalities remain Micro managing behaviour has limitations – need to change attitudes and values too Depends upon positive view of diversity and recognition of shared future, which In turn, depends upon tackling the fear of difference and interaction with all difference

15. Learning the lessons Targeting particular communities creates sense of unfairness all round – even when justified by need! But also misses the opportunity to create shared experiences across different communities – thematic programmes, tackle need at the same time (cf CRE Regeneration report)

16. Breaking the Circle Racism and discrimination creates….. …..poverty and disadvantage which perpetuate…. …..power, advantage; prejudice and stereotypes, and…. ….motivates racism and discrimination

17. Community Cohesion Common vision and sense of belonging Diversity positively valued Life opportunities more equal Interaction with people from different backgrounds, in schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods

18. Cohesion has local dimensions What does it mean in Liverpool, Cornwall, Lincolnshire & London boroughs but no longer simply about ‘race’; travellers, new migrants, - and all ‘difference’ – mental illness, people with disabilities, lesbian and gay… Need ensure interaction with ‘segregated’ and insular communities

19. Managing the interface Between old and new residents; Between BME communities; some longer term rivalries Putting investment into commonalities ‘Bottom up’ sense of place, with interaction to develop shared values Making it sustainable agenda – building it in to civil society and social capital

20. The Two Great Challenges: Learning to live with the planet And Learning to live with each other - and they are connected

24. Understanding our communities Mapping community dynamics – change in number & settlement patterns Understanding perceptions & realities Anticipating disaffection & tensions Community leaders – ‘gateways’ or ‘gatekeepers’ Structural changes & funding regimes to encourage people & organisations to co-operate

25. Understanding social capital Institutional & social networks which enable communities to function effectively What capital exists now; Is it affected by population churn & diversity? How do we build & create ‘bridging’ social capital? How do we sustain it – build newcomers into civil society, develop pathways

26. Working across communities Examples such as school twinning, sports & arts programmes, inter-faith networks, youth projects All help to create shared experiences, shared spaces, to develop understanding, trust & shared values

27. Building partnerships (not just about policy, regulation and process) Creating diversity advantage – creative and entrepreneurial cities Local employers; health sector; universities and colleges; community organisations etc Local celebrities & role models – e.g. sports personalities Role of education – and wider educative role Values, symbols & celebrations

28. A approach to managing neighbourhoods… Coping with additional population & identity issues; prepared to debate real issues Tackle inequalities and injustice Responding to resource needs – in schools, health & housing Manage settlement of new communities & work with existing residents Anticipate & manage conflicts & disputes

29. As well as…… Cope with extremism – of all descriptions Provide a sense of belonging Initiate cross-cultural programmes Understand social capital & bridging relationships between communities Leadership LA and partners bringing together various programmes New Skills – and requires political leadership and will

30. And…… To build upon success and create a positive vision of the future

31. Ted.cantle@idea.gov.uk Book: Community Cohesion, A New Framework for Race and Diversity, published by Palgrave Macmillan