Here we examine issues like
- identity, social problems
- race disturbances, multiculturism, integration,
- tolerance, diversity, social cohesion

English Identity

1. Taking shape (till 1500 CE)
We survey the early times when English identity was still hazy

2. During empire & today

In the days of empire, the English never had to consciously define themselves. Now the ‘island race’ has a problem. The insecurity and self-doubt have grown with the devolution of power in Scotland & Wales, the pressures for greater integration into the European Union and the march of globalism.

2. Youth problems 2004-05
working class kids are the most policed, preached at and controlled in society. Working class youth gangs are seen as threatening.

- Race cases (2000)

- Race cases (2001)

- Race cases (2002)

- Race riots 2001

- Race riots 2001 - the punishment

New Equality Body - CEHR
- The Beginnings 2004-05
- CEHR launch by Ruth Kelly Nov06
- CEHR launch - ethnic response Nov06
- Board has no black rep, no race committee
- 15 government depts fail on race (CRE final report Sep07)
 

Race & Faith
Minister's Epistle 1 to the Muslims (Feb 07)
Minister's Epistle 2 to the Muslims (Apr 07)

Multiculturism, Integration, Social Cohesion
1 Multiculturism - Rise and Fall
Britain has shown no great enthusiasm for multicultural values. The British state has adopted a 2-faced attitude on multiculturism. On the one hand, it trumpets the supposed tolerant attitudes of the British. On the other, it constantly undermines multiculturism by upholding racist policies through state institutions - immigration, police, courts, prisons, civil service.
Anti-racists say multiculturism is an attempt to divert the real issue - racism. Celebrating different cultures without removing the structures of inequality and discrimination embedded in the dominant society.

2. Parekh Report 2000                                     
The wide ranging Parekh Report (2000) on the "Future of Mutli-Ethnic Britain" stipulated that a multicultural society requires us to acknowledge that: UK’s history and accomplishments are not reflected solely in the activities of one race (whites), one language group (English speakers), one ethnicity (Anglo-Saxons) or only one religion (Christianity).

3.1 Community Cohesion, the new doctrine
The government response appeared in the Cantle Report (Dec 2001). It had nothing to say about  institutional racism but introduced a new concept, community cohesion. In addition, Society had to cohere through shared values. It proposed a national debate on British citizenship and all citizens were required to declare their allegiance to Britain.

4.1 Integration becomes official
The White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven - integration with diversity (2002) marked the effective end of multiculturism and the launch of integration as the new agenda, with community cohesion as the goal.
It was decided to introduce citizenship & language tests, ceremonial oaths of allegiance to the Queen. In addition, the state arrogated to itself the right to strip British citizenship from suspects with dual nationality.

4.2 Commission on Integration & Cohesion launched
Guided by this book and EU integration initiatives, Ruth Kelly launched a Commission on Integration & Cohesion on 24 Aug 2006 and called for an 'honest debate' on multiculturalism.
Darra Singh, chief executive of Ealing Council, was appointed chair and there were 13 other members or Commissioners.
It is clear that multiculturism is being vigorously replaced by a policy of 'integration & cohesion', which in effect means assimilation. Race issues are to be sidelined - proof of this came from the decision to dismantle the CRE and create a new all-embracing equalities body, the CEHR that was launched in November 2006.

4.3 Commission on Integration & Cohesion Report 14 June 2007
Chairman of the Commission, Darra Singh, proposed four key principles for understanding integration and cohesion:
_ Firstly, the sense of shared futures which we believe is at the heart of our model and our recommendations – an emphasis on articulating what binds communities together rather than what differences divide them, and prioritising a shared future over divided legacies
_ Secondly, an emphasis on a new model of rights and responsibilities that we believe will be fit for purpose in the 21st century – one that makes clear both a sense of citizenship at national and local level, and the obligations that go along with membership of a community, both for individuals or groups
_ Thirdly, an ethics of hospitality – a new emphasis on mutual respect and civility that recognises that alongside the need to strengthen the social bonds within groups, the pace of change across the country reconfigures local communities rapidly, meaning that mutual respect is fundamental to issues of integration and cohesion
_ Fourthly, a commitment to equality that sits alongside the need to deliver visible social justice, to prioritise transparency and fairness, and build trust in the institutions that arbitrate between groups.

5.1 Integration, multiculturism and racism (Siva05)

In the wake of the 7 July 05 bombings, multiculturalism has become the whipping boy. And the more Blair denies his complicity in that war, the more he has to find other causes to blame 7/7 on, and the more he erodes our democratic rights and civil liberties. In addition to his draconian measures against terrorism, Mr Blair has thrown into question the future of multiculturalism in Britain via his Commission on Integration. But Multiculturalism did not create separatism or ethnic enclaves. The confusion arises from the inability of government to distinguish between the multicultural society as fact and multiculturalism as policy.

5.2 Integration, multiculturism and racism (Siva06)

Integration provides for the co-existence of minority cultures with the majority culture, assimilation requires the absorption of minority cultures into the majority culture. To use 'integration' and 'assimilation' as synonyms, therefore, is not just to misuse language and confuse concepts, but to dissimulate practice. Integration is what they say, assimilation is what they do. And it is vital that we grasp the distinction. For the aim of assimilation is a monocultural, even a monofaith, society; the aim of integration is a multicultural society, a pluralist society.

5.3 Keynote speech IRR Conf 16Sep06

In waging the 'war on terror', the Institute of Race Relations noted that PM Blair has thrown into question the future of multiculturalism in Britain via his Commission on Integration. Integration was first defined, by Roy Jenkins in 1966, 'not as a flattening process of assimilation' but as 'equal opportunity, accompanied by cultural diversity, in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance'. Now New Labour is taking up the EU model of monoculturalism and assimilation through core values, citizenship classes and the like.

5.4 Amartya Sen on Multiculturism & Faith Schools
Multiculturalism soon came to be misunderstood: each culture could stay in its own little box without having contact with other cultures. But if you live in another country – not the country where you were born – then you must have contact with other people. Your life would be more comfortable if you also learnt English. Living abroad calls for adjustment.
It is up to the person – whether he or she wants to adjust more and be absorbed, or remain more aloof. What characterizes democratic life is that it is the person who decides.

6.  Goodhart's views (Mar04) + responses

Goodhart wonders whether immigrants and indigenous people have common values: “We need to be reassured that strangers, especially those from other countries, have the same idea of reciprocity as we do”. Note the abstraction introduced but not explained. And who are these strangers? How did they become strangers in their own land? And who is "we"? Must common values be based on race and derived solely from history?

8a. Britishness - an illusion (AnindyaB)
According to the official narrative, Muslim terrorists blow people up on public transport because of their failure to integrate and sign up to “British values”. That they may be reacting to western state-sponsored terrorism in the Mid-East for decades and ongoing racism, including BNP 'extremism' at home, is not allowed to enter the official discourse.

8b. British tolerance- a myth

A study by Lancaster University study, commissioned by the Home Office, examined the attitudes of 435 15-year-olds on race, religion and integration. Nearly a third of pupils at a predominantly white school believed one race was superior to another, compared with a tenth from a majority Asian Muslim school and fewer than a fifth at a mixed school.
Muslim groups reacted to the study by saying the government had attacked their communities despite their own report telling them they were not the biggest problem.

10. CRE Chief out of step
CRE chair Trevor Phillips is now speaking the language of the right and New Labour. He keeps making controversial statements that fits  the Blair and right wing agenda. His career advancement under New Labour now hinges on slaying the 'evil' dragon of multiculturalism and blaming the victims of largely state racism for their own misfortune.

 - Racism is an integral part of western culture, especially in the English speaking countries… It should not be seen as a deviancy from the norms of the culture but central to it.”                       _____ S. Fernando, “Mental Health, Race & Culture” (Macmillan 1991)       

- Racism exists within all organisations and institutions… it infiltrates the community and starts among the very young.”           

                                                                      _____ William Macpherson Report (1999)

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