This document provides an overview of David Bates' personal perspective on asylum and integration in the UK. It discusses 3 stages of British 'race relations' including assimilation, multiculturalism, and community cohesion. It also discusses the history of the concept of 'race' and racism in Britain. The document concludes by discussing integration and the current government's 'Big Society' initiative, and how this may impact asylum seekers and community relations in the northeast of England.

1. David Bates (db2dba@student.sunderland.ac.uk) PhD candidate, University of Sunderland, CRMCS)

2. Overview Asylum and integration – a personal perspective 3 stages of British ‘race relations’ ‘Race’ and racism in British history Conclusion: integration and the ‘Big Society’

4. In spite of the hardships associated with the asylum process, asylum seekers often integrate very well into the communities to which they are dispersed “One senior political source yesterday told The Herald of growing suspicions that the Home Office wants to wind down the overall numbers of asylum seekers in Glasgow because of the public outcry when they are removed. The source said: ‘Over the years we’ve had the Dungavel protests, the Ay family and the Glasgow Girls, Precious Mhango and the demonstrations about the dawn raids. This doesn’t happen elsewhere in the UK and you’ve got to ask whether it is less hassle for UKBA to have Glasgow’s asylum seekers elsewhere.’ The Herald, 13th November 2010 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/asylum-seeker-dispersal-is-set-to-start-in-days-1.1068015

6. 2. Multiculturalism

8. 2. Tolerance, diversity and multiculturalism Labour Home Secretary Roy Jenkins on multicultural integration, 1966: ‘equal opportunity accompanied by cultural diversity in an atmosphere or mutual tolerance’ (Rex 1995) Bourne (2007): grassroots multiculturalism versus ‘official’ multiculturalism used to address ‘cultural deficit’ of minorities State-sanctioned multiculturalism: ‘a particularist, ethnocentric extension of British colonial policy ‘ (Melotti 1997)

9. 3. Community cohesion and the state Cantle Report (2001): institutionalised differences undermine ‘cohesion’, ‘common values’, ‘common aims and objectives’ and ‘common moral principles and codes of behaviour’ (Grillo 2007: 986) Commission on Integration and Cohesion: Our Shared Future (2007) Grillo (2007): does this mean cultural differences = unBritish? Pilkington (2008): relies on selective version of national narrative; overlooks political factors which undermine cohesion (war, housing policy, faith schools etc.)

10. ‘Race’ and racism in British history ‘Race’ has been understood in different ways throughout history: descent, typology, subspecies (Banton 1977) Miles (1993): ‘race’ is ideologically constructed, meaning that there is no single ‘racism’ but many ‘racisms’ Barker (1982), Gilroy (1987): contemporary racism draws on ideas of fixed cultural difference and national identity

11. Conclusion: Integration and the ‘Big Society’ Conservative-Lib Dem Coalition government, May 2010 Changing language of ‘community relations’ Big Society >> greater involvement of ‘civil society’ in community relations >> charities and faith organisations Asylum seekers and integration in the north east Integrated community work Education Religious institutions Media

13. Bade, K.J. (2003) Migration in European History: The making of Europe (London: Blackwell)

14. Banton, M (1977) The Idea of Race (London: Tavistock)

15. Barker, M. (1981) The New Racism: Conservatives and the ideology of the tribe (London: Junction Books)

16. Bourne, J. (2007) IRR Briefing Paper No.2: In Defence of Multiculturalism (London: Institute of Race Relations)

17. Gilroy, P. (1987) There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack (London: Routledge)

18. Grillo, R. (2007) ‘An excess of alterity? Debating difference in a multicultural society?’ in Ethnic and Racial Studies, 30:6

19. Independent Asylum Commission (2008) Fit for purpose yet? Report of interim findings (London: IAC)

20. Marflett, P. (2006) Refugees in a Global Era (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan)

21. May, T. (2001) Social Research: Issues, methods, process (Buckingham: Open University Press)

22. Melotti, U. (1997) ‘International migration in Europe: social projects and political cultures’ in Modood, T. &

23. Miles, R. (1993) Racism after 'Race Relations' (London: Routledge)

24. Pilkington, A. (2008) ‘From Institutional Racism to Community Cohesion: the Changing Nature of Racial Discourse in Britain’ in Sociological Research Online, 13(3)6

25. Rex, J. (1995) ‘Multiculturalism in Europe and North America’ Nations and Nationalism, 1:2, pp.243-259

26. Smith, G.W. (1990) ‘Political Activist as Ethnographer’ Social Problems, Vol. 37: 4, p.646