UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION What are the obstacles to the integration of Iraqi Muslim Shiite refugees in Sydney, Australia? Makki Ilaj 2014 This thesis is submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Sydney DEDICATION To my wife, Zulfikar, Mohammad Reda, Fatima, and Mohammad Hassan who has supported this long journey. To my country which inspired me and gave the power to conduct this thesis. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to my supervisors, Associate Professor Carol Reid, and Dr. Katina Zammit for being generous with their time, honest in their appraisals, and their patience as I’ve worked to finish this PhD. You are the most generous ladies I have had the pleasure of working with. I would like to sincerely thank the Iraqi community for their support and encouragement … you have my full attention now! Thank you to Sheikh Mohammad Al Semiany, Dr. Christine Halse and Dr. Helen McCue. A special thank to the staff of School of Education, especially Markie Lugton, Kathy Watson, Lei Cameron and to my fellow students in Building 22. ii STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICATION The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or part, for a degree at this or any other institution. Makki Ilaj March 2014 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ..................................................................................... I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................... II STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICATION......................................................III TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................... IV LIST OF APPENDICES .....................................................................VIII LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................. IX LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................. X ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................. XI ABSTRACT .....................................................................................XII CHAPTER 1: THE RESEARCH PROBLEM............................................. 1 1.1 Introduction...................................................................................1 1.2 The Importance of the Research .................................................4 1.3 The Research Problem .................................................................5 1.4 The Research Questions..............................................................6 1.5 The Structure of the Thesis .........................................................7 CHAPTER 2: A SOCIO-HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF IRAQ AND ITS PEOPLE....................................................................... 10 2.1 Iraq: Historical Background.......................................................10 2.2 Socio-cultural Dynamics of Iraqi People ..................................15 2.2.1 Ethnic groups................................................................................ 15 2.2.2 Religions ....................................................................................... 19 2.2.3 Languages ..................................................................................... 20 2.2.4 Marginalization of Iraqi Shiites .................................................... 21 2.3 History of Muslim and Iraqi Immigration to Australia..............24 2.4 Iraqi Family and the Immigration Journey................................26 2.5 Australian Demography and Settlement Policies ....................29 2.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................30 CHAPTER 3: THEORIES OF INTEGRATION ......................................... 32 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................32 3.2 Voluntary and Involuntary Immigration ....................................32 iv 3.3 Voluntary and Involuntary Immigration ....................................33 3.3.1 Refugees........................................................................................ 34 3.3.2 Asylum seekers............................................................................. 37 3.3.3 Immigrants.................................................................................... 39 3.4 The Concept of Integration ........................................................41 3.4.1 Interation, meaning and application.............................................. 41 3.4.2 Levels of integration ..................................................................... 44 Coexistence ........................................................................................................44 Adaptation..........................................................................................................45 Appreciation.......................................................................................................46 Commitment .......................................................................................................46 Cooperation........................................................................................................46 Participation ......................................................................................................46 3.4.3 Types of integration...................................................................... 47 Social integration ...............................................................................................47 Educational integration......................................................................................55 Economic integration .........................................................................................58 Religious integration..........................................................................................64 Political integration ...........................................................................................68 Linguistic integration .........................................................................................72 Civic integration.................................................................................................77 3.5 The Relationship Between Australian immigration and integration Policies.....................................................................84 3.5.1 White Australia policy.................................................................. 84 3.5.2 Assimilation.................................................................................. 87 3.5.3 Integration..................................................................................... 91 3.5.4 Multiculturalism............................................................................ 92 3.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................99 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY ........................................................ 101 4.1 Introduction...............................................................................101 4.2 Approach ...................................................................................101 4.3 Research Design.......................................................................104 4.4 Questionnaire............................................................................104 4.4.1 Language of questions ................................................................ 105 4.4.2 Piloting process........................................................................... 106 4.4.3 Elements of the questionnaire..................................................... 108 4.4.4 Administering the questionnaire................................................. 111 4.4.5 Sampling and selection methods................................................. 111 4.5 Interviews ..................................................................................113 4.5.1 Interview process........................................................................ 116 4.5.2 Interview design.......................................................................... 120 4.5.3 Participant sample....................................................................... 123 Description of participants...............................................................................124 v 4.6 Ethical Issues............................................................................127 4.7 Analysis Strategy......................................................................130 4.7.1 Personal narrative....................................................................... 131 4.8 Research Limitations................................................................132 4.9 Data Analysis ............................................................................133 4.9.1 Questionnaire.............................................................................. 134 4.9.2 Interviews.................................................................................... 135 4.10 Conclusion ................................................................................137 CHAPTER 5: QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS ......................................... 138 5.1 Introduction...............................................................................138 5.2 Demographic Background .......................................................138