Network for Diversity and Integration – a Project of the Party of European Socialists

Büro London Blickpunkt Großbritannien The Chandlery Office 609 50 Westminster Bridge Road GB London SE1 7QY Tel 00 44 20 77 21 87 45 Fax 00 44 20 77 21 87 46 www.feslondon.org.uk 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, diversity 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 socialist 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 integration 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 Blickpunkt Großbritannien Seite 3 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. Blickpunkt Großbritannien Seite 4 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.

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