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July 2008 Network for diversity and integration – a project of the Party of European Socialists

With progressing globalisation, the traditional notion of nation states as ethnically, re- ligiously and culturally homogenous entities is turning more and more into a relict from the past. For reality already looks very different: to an ever greater degree, diver- sity will become the dominant structural characteristic of most European societies. Be- fore the backdrop of this development, Gary Tiley, MEP and chair of the PSE’s “Diver- sity and Integration Network”, reports on projects and possible solutions in Europe that aim at facilitating the entrance and the participation of minority groups in societal and political life and, by these means, head towards a society which no longer defines itself along ethnic and religious criteria but by common social aims and values.

Gary Titley*

The nation state was built around the prin- cution. In reality, most European nations ciples of on country, one ruler, one people today are the result of centuries of succes- and one religion. Interestingly though, sive waves of immigration. In the past, most communities that stuck rigidly to these prin- of the immigrants were gradually assimi- ciples, generally found themselves stagnat- lated over generations becoming often in- ing, while those countries which adopted a distinguishable from the native population. more pragmatic approach, generally thrived Nonetheless each wave of immigration economically from the skills of immigrants, brought with it issues of integration and dis- many of whom were fleeing religious perse- crimination little different from those preva- lent today.

* Gary Titley, since 1989 a Labour Member of the European Parliament, who works in numerous committees, is leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party and chair of the Globalisation has enormously accelerated PES’s „Diversity and Integration Network“. Founded in 2007, the Network aims to facilitated discussion and the exchange the movement of people. More than 175 of experiences between citizens of the EU and PES’s social- ist and social democratic member parties. Its focus is on the million people live outside their country of challenges of the increasing diversity of European societies as well as the opportunities and difficulties faced in the inte- gration of migrants and other minorities. Note that though birth. The motivation for this mobility has they are the first group for the Network to work on, Muslims are not its sole focus. either bin economic, with migrants looking

Blickpunkt Großbritannien Seite 2 for a better life and developed countries European directives to outlaw discrimina- desperately searching for suppliers of often tion in employment on all grounds, including cheap labour; or humanitarian with people age, race and religion. Yet we have to fleeing from persecution or wars. As before recognize that minority groups still suffer migration has brought enormous benefits to higher unemployment, poorer housing and the host societies. We have to be clear that poorer educational attainment. Europe needs migration as part of a wider solution to its aging populations, shrinking The section of European society, which workforces and low birth rates. It is also im- most feels itself under the greatest pres- portant to remember that freedom of sure, is estimated between 13 and 20 mil- movement within its borders is one of the lion Muslims. 1 Islam has played an integral founding principles of the EU. part in the evolution of European history. However, it is since the Second World War Nowadays most European countries are that we have seen large-scale migration of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-faith. Muslims to Europe. In some member This has created issues of community ten- states, Islam is now the second largest re- sion and discrimination. Indigenous popula- ligion. Ethnic and faith divisions appear to tions often feel threatened by ‘difference’, be replacing those that previously were while migrants feel unwelcome and feel that based on race. Furthermore, these divi- their contribution to the national benefit is sions are being presented as if they were unrecognized. Whereas first generation rigid, unchangeable and alien to prevailing migrants were likely to accept the situation, culture and values. This gives rise in turn to second and third generations are less pre- the view that social solidarity is being un- pared to accept not having an equal stake dermined by cultural diversity. Add to that in their own land. This has led in many the fact that the global reach of Islam al- cases to disaffection and alienation. Mod- lows, at least on a superficial level, the de- ern communications also make it easier for velopment of trans-national identity and we people to establish trans-national identities, can see the process, which has led some which can reject the values of the society in people to talk of a clash of civilisations which people live. within European society.

The left have attempted to deal with these The PES has always believed in the princi- issues by pushing for legislation, which out- ples of equality and social justice. As a pro- laws certain behaviour, for example with gressive European party it is furthermore anti-discrimination laws. In the European committed to understanding the deeper Union it was the Socialist commissioner issues around integration and equality. Anna Diamantopoulou who introduced Accordingly, it tasked the Network for

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Diversity and Integration to look into issues other hand has a very long established of diversity, discrimination, integration and Muslim community. equality. The Network, chaired by Gary Titley MEP and Vice-chair Emine Bozkurt It was immediately obvious that it is a mis- MEP and open to representatives of all take to talk about a Muslim community as if PES member parties, held a series of fact- it were a cohesive whole. There are in fact finding missions in five European countries, many Muslim communities. We were par- all of which are grappling with hot to make ticularly impressed by the presentation in the most of diversity and how to manage London by the Institute for Community Co- the challenge of integration. Members of hesion, 2 which analysed the plethora of the Diversity Network travelled to Spain, the Muslim groupings. Even on a more superfi- UK, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Sweden cial level, it became apparent to us that a to learn from sister parties, politicians, gov- Muslim woman coming from a rural com- ernmental and non-governmental organisa- munity in Somalia would probably have a tions as well as from Muslims themselves different outlook to a third generation British about the practical challenges and realities Muslim man of urban Pakistani origin. For of today’s global, diverse Europe. By select- governmental and non-governmental or- ing these diverse countries, the Network ganisation to work with Muslim communi- was exposed to very different perspectives ties, they first need to define exactly which on the integration and diversity questions. Muslim communities they are dealing with. For example, despite a shared history of empire, countries like the UK and the Neth- Faith can be the greatest area of difficulty erlands have taken very different paths over for social democratic parties, given the the past half-century or so to addressing secular origins of many of our parties. Yet, the integration question. Some Muslim it was clear to us that for people of faith the minorities in those countries now date back opportunity to discuss further faith-based three generations; even after this amount of issues is important. If we as social democ- time neither country can be said to have got rats deny people that opportunity, then we the integration question entirely right. run the risk of alienating potential support- Conversely, Sweden faces a relatively new, ers. We were struck by the evidence we alternative challenge in trying to integrate received in Sweden from the Christian So- Muslim newcomers from war torn parts of cialists who provided a forum for Muslims the world, such as Iraq. Sweden, in com- and other religions. We also heard evi- mon with the other Nordic countries, has dence from the British Prime Minister’s am- also had until relatively recently a more bassador to the faith communities who is homogeneous society than has been the developing a dialogue with a range of faith case elsewhere in Europe. Bulgaria on the groups.

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Muslim women feel doubly discriminated as The PES needs to develop a strategy for Muslims and as women. They also face dif- connecting with Muslim youth. ferent challenges to integration from Muslim men. The debate about the headscarf is a In terms of the broader debate about com- particular example. At the same time the munity cohesion, the working party felt con- role of women as “agents of integration” cern at the concept of multi-culturalism, was a positive theme that emerged and re- implying as it does different communities curred throughout the course of the project. operating in the same geographical space Women of all creeds often have more op- but not relating to each other. There is a portunities to interact with one another in danger that multi-culturalism has become places like the school gates or in commu- the vehicle by which divisions and inequali- nity based activities, which works towards ties are re-enforced. The embracing of mul- cohesion and integration. Dialogue with ti-culturalism can prevent the serious study Muslims can sometimes exclude women, and understanding of how minorities relate though, and their needs differ from those of to society as a whole and of how to tackle men. It is clear that Social Democratic par- the underlying causes of prejudice and dis- ties need to do more to reach out to Muslim crimination. In reality, multi-culturalism can women and encourage their participation in provide a superficial sense of community society as the UK’s European Parliamen- cohesion when in fact nothing has changed tary Labour Party did recently. Also the underneath and we have little real idea of Dutch party PvdA has reached out to how communities related to each other and women of different ethnic origin and created how mutual respect and understanding the Multi-Ethnical Women’s network. develop.

For Muslim youths there are major issues of This in part provides us with the answer to identity – they feel unwelcome in the soci- the question as to why anti-discrimination ety in which they were born, but equally legislation has had only a superficial effect. they have little empathy for the land of their Using the law to change behaviour does parents and grandparent’s birth. Many little to address underlying attitudes and young people do not want to be seen purely values. It can also reinforce a belief that through the prism of religion but also as a minority groups are inferior and can only young person concerned with the issues all progress with special help. young people identify with. However, it is in their search for an identity that many feel The key to breaking out of the cul-de-sac of more closely associated with Islam than multi-culturalism was set out for us in the was the case with many of their parents. Spanish Government’s programme for inte- gration, which emphasised the need for

Blickpunkt Großbritannien Seite 5 communities to work together to tackle that if when she became an MP she had common challenges and was based on the known what she now knows about commu- concept of inter-culturalism. It is only nity dynamics, she would have approached through constant interaction, dialogue and the challenges of her very diverse constitu- shared experience that mutual trust and a ency of Tower Hamlets in a totally different common sense of belonging can develop. way. Training is therefore essential. In this context, the way things are done is as important as what is done. Integration is The second factor needed for more active more about a process than an end point. community engagement is to move away from the situation prevalent in many areas, There is a need to encourage a more active whereby community relations are left to engagement a more active engagement by voluntary and non-governmental organisa- communities on their own future. We noted tions that often have limited resources. work done on this field in Rotterdam. Fur- Community engagement has to become a ther, the chairman recalls the views of a mainstream activity of all public bodies and former Secretary of State for Northern Ire- also the private sector, which need to ac- land that the requirement by the EU that knowledge their responsibility in this field. European money should only be spent on projects where there was agreement across The third key factor is the provision of ade- communities was a crucial factor in the quate resources to reduce the competing Northern Ireland peace process, because it demands of different groups. Repeatedly encouraged communities to work together. we heard of the importance of housing and education in community relations. We noted Such active engagement is dependent on a with concern the news that the current number of factors. Swedish government is cutting back re- sources, which will inevitably increase local First and foremost, there needs to be in- tensions. vestment in skills development and know- ledge of the key players. It is clear that too The fourth factor is leadership. There is a often politicians and officials have no train- need for politicians, senior civil servants ing in the nature and make-up of their and business people to take the lead in in- communities. We noted the work don by the creasing community interaction. Too often UK’s Institute for Community Cohesion on society’s leaders are prepared to take the population mapping, which enables deci- advantages that newer communities bring, sion makers to define the particular needs but not to give anything back. Too often of communities. We were struck also by the leaders are prepared to tolerate separation former British MP Oona King’s comments and not make a stand against intolerance.

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We were struck by the story of the failure of tion, though, is what do we mean by citi- political leadership in Dudley in the UK over zenship? In the days when societies were the issue of planning permission for a new more homogeneous, the concepts of na- Mosque. Good community relations depend tionality and citizenship were generally in- on good leadership. Society’s leaders have ter-twined and frequently defined in shared to give a clear and constant message that a experiences as in ‘a Norwegian is someone modern society is multi-cultural and divers who eats brown cheese and likes to go ski- and that diversity should be a source of ing’. In Sweden the need to move towards a strength and be celebrated. We were im- definition of citizenship, which is inclusive pressed by the measures taken in Newham and not exclusive, was very strongly recom- in the UK to celebrate its diversity. By active mended. Increasingly people talk of each celebration of diversity, we can hopefully nation having a set of common values that ensure that the debate about the balance all must share. The problem arises from and relationship between different cultures defining these values in anything other than can be discussed in a more mature way. a theoretical way. It would be better to move from the theoretical to the practical, to Too often the debate about community rela- set out a political concept of what a nation tions is conducted in terms of past differ- is striving to achieve for its citizens and for ences. Encouraging active participation in the wider world. Within that political concept resolving local and national challenges en- will be an understanding of what level of sures that we can focus on building for a difference is acceptable in a society and better future. Climate change is one exam- also of the extent that in modern societies it ple of a challenge where society has to is possible to have multiple identities. Also work together in the face of a serious com- within that political concept will be a defini- mon threat regardless of ethnicity, faith or tion of shared goals, which our society is cultural difference. We must remember that trying to achieve and the encouragement society is not static. It is dynamic, con- for all to share in achieving these. That is stantly changing and adapting. That dyna- why the idea of active citizenship is so im- mism will itself transform community rela- portant. People have to feel they have a tions provided we can break out of a culture stake in deciding their future. of separation and backward thinking. Inherent in the debate about citizenship is A great deal of discussion was held in the the need to oppose the tendency to con- network about citizenship. One participant flagrate being a minority with being an im- in our fact-finding visits stated, “If you do migrant. In the Netherlands, for example, not treat people like citizens, you cannot the reality of the “eternal immigrant” was expect them to act like citizens”. The ques- brought home clearly. This describes the

Blickpunkt Großbritannien Seite 7 situation whereby second, third and even to be inclusive and progressive. In the UK fourth generation Muslim minorities are still we met with a wide range of Muslim coun- deemed by some to be immigrants, despite cillors, MPs and members of the House of being born, bred and fully paid up European Lords. Examples like these should be rolled citizens. Integrated societies are founded out and held up as best practice, offering on a sense of belonging; the concept of the guidance to all and marking us out as being eternal immigrant flies in the face of this. the political party that practices what it The PES needs to develop inclusive preaches on diversity and integration. language within the party and in its external communications and messaging, and avoid Language was another common theme at all costs clumsy, albeit mostly uninten- raised in our enquiry. Should we compel tional blunders, which can fuel feelings of our minorities to speak the host country’s alienation and exclusion. language? Many Muslim representatives we met agreed that language proficiency is The right of participation and the power to a crucial pre-requisite for integration, so change things underpin the sense of citi- long as this doesn’t preclude Muslims from zenship and of belonging. It is essential speaking other languages too. Some coun- therefore to ensure that all our political, tries have developed relatively strict lan- business and community structures are guage tests for new immigrants, many of open to representation from all communi- whom originate from Muslim countries. But ties, so that there is cross-cultural contact this still does not address language profi- and understanding. The PES should take a ciency for Europe’s second and third gen- lead on this to actively encourage minority eration of Muslim minorities. Research in representation at all levels of governance. the UK has demonstrated social mobility of second and third generation Bengalis re- We need to ensure that the PES is the mains stuck and it is often concluded that party of choice for Europe’s Muslim minori- language is the principal gateway to social ties, the party that provides them with the mobility and this is where we should focus platforms they need to fully participate in efforts. What the PES must not do, though, society. This means making our parties is shy away from these tough, risky ques- across Europe more representative of the tions of language. Failure to have a candid population, so that the faces we see in discussion about these kinds of issues party meetings reflect Europe’s diversity. plays into the hands of the right wing, giving The mission to Sweden taught us some- them a welcome vacuum to set the tone of thing about this: by allowing non-citizens to the debate and drive it down a less pro- become members of the party, the Swedish gressive path. Social Democrats have shown themselves

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The findings of the PES Diversity and Inte- A German-language version of this article is available on www.feslondon.org.uk/public.htm . gration Network project form an integral The views expressed in this article are those of the au- part of the PES Manifesto for the 2009 elec- thor and do not necessarily reflect those of the FES London. tions. We need to act on what we know: that integration requires a means to partici- pate in political and civic processes and that the way ahead for modern society lies in ensuring that there is constant interaction 1 http://fra.europa.eu/fra/material/pub/muslim/ Manifestations_EN.pdf and http://europa.eu/rapid/press and shared experience between communi- Releasees/Action.do?reference=SPEECH/06/235&format= HTML&aged=1&language=EN&guiLanguage=en 2 ties. http://www.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet/icoco