Cohesion and Integration for Local Communities?

Transcription

1 Cohesion and Integration for Local Communities? Ted Cantle CBE The icoco Foundation and The Cohesion and Integration

2 Where are we now? Is the UK exceptional? Dominated by Brexit and the fall-out But is the UK really so different? And do we actually have some advantages?

3 Despite the lessons of the past, 2016 saw the idea of human dignity and equality, the very notion of a human family, coming under vigorous and relentless assault from powerful narratives of blame, fear and scapegoating, propagated by those who sought to take, or cling on to, power at almost any cost. Amnesty International (2017) The State of the World s Human Rights Amnesty International Report 2016/17. London: Amnesty International

4 We are engaged in the process of creating a European unit in the world organization of the United Nations. I hope that we shall become one of several continental units which will form the pillars of the world instrument for maintaining security, and be the best guarantee of maintaining peace.

5 until very recently it seemed to be universally accepted that such global connectedness was inherently a good thing Mark Zuckerberg

6 Segregation and separation in the virtual world Social Media: the challenge and the potential the tweet of god (3.7m followers) Fake News

7 Are We More Divided?.Physically and/or virtually By social class By income and wealth By age By sexual orientation By ethnicity By faith and sect Rural and urban By political view..

8 Growth of Populism and the Far Right

9 Party of the Danes Danskernes Parti

10 The Challenge - religion Religion does more harm in the world than good 49% agree 51% disagree (62% agree in Great Britain) Religious people are better citizens 32% agree 68% disagree (22% agree in Great Britain) Ipsos Base: adults aged across Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States, Serbia, Peru, July 2017

11 55% on average think there are too many immigrants in their country 56% of WB say UK not successfully integrated, as do 31% of EM. 56% believe that British cultural identity is under threat (cf France 55%, Kenya 56%. Turkey 55%. Germany 45%) 82% think the world is becoming a more dangerous place

12 The Challenge politics (beyond the UK) our government does not prioritise the concerns of people like me 71 % agree 21 % disagree 72 % agree in Great Britain None of the political party represents me 56 % agree in Great Britain Source Ipsos Mori and Nat Cen

13 The Focus? Traditionally it has been minorities: Half of black popn. live in only 19 English boroughs; 17 of them in London. Similarly, half of Britain s 4.3 million Asians reside in only 29 metropolitan areas across England, And perhaps new migrants Now, the left behind and those that see diversity as a threat?

14 White British Popn Pupils England Average 87% 80% 70% Slough 58% 34% 17% Birmingham 66% 53% 32% Bradford 76% 64% 44% Luton 65% 45% 24% Blackburn/Darwen 76% 66% 48% Brent 29% 18% 7% Newham 33% 16% 6%

15 Cohesion or Integration? Segregation: Mono-cultural areas have less opportunity to disconfirm stereotypes and prejudice; more likely to be intolerant of difference

16 Rethinking Who We Are? 24 % feel greater connection to people around the world than 10 years ago; years -31% 44% -leisure important to identity; 38% say values matter; and 34% say personal views and important Traditional factors of age (22%), nationality (20%), gender (13%), class (7%) ethnicity (6%) less important

17 Rethinking Who We Are Mixed - the fastest growing group

18 The UK advantage Very active voluntary and community sector, with established schemes and good understanding Local authority role in community cohesion, experience and commitment; and local area approach Some private sector willingness Support from central Government Area based approach

19 The Cohesion and Integration Network To transform cohesion and integration policy and practice For all professions and sectors Build on the existing good practice, support the organisations and people involved Advocacy to build the recognition and support generally Share resources and what works ; build capacity and expertise

20 A vision for a shared society Creating mixed environments which bring people together and challenge stereotypes and prejudice as part of everyday experiences Educational and intercultural programmes - from school twinning, arts and drama, living libraries, and in the workplace Addressing fears directly, not (mis-)using them, and with responsible political processes Diversity as an opportunity and not a threat

21 Ted Cantle CBE The icoco Foundation Cantle The Cohesion and Integration Network