Stephanie Baker

Migration, Identity and Multiculturalism

Do migrant and minority ethnic groups experience a sense of inclusion? How is this sense of inclusion recognised or manifested in a multicultural society?

Britain as the heart of the once dominating British Empire has experienced migrant settlement for decades. As interaction with commonwealth countries and surrounding nations increased so have opportunities for immigration from around the globe. Australia as a large and opportunistic country has also experienced a history of migrant influxes as it has largely been regarded as an ideal destination for many types of migrants who seek change and a better future. Migrants to both countries are not solely from one destination and the different cultures, traditions, religious and ideologies they bring with them differ greatly from that of the settler nations. Entwining the new migrants into the local communities is a delicate mix of policies, culture and integration methods that include government, social attitudes, tolerance and understanding from the current citizens. By establishing such integration methods these settler countries eventuate into multicultural nations and become the home to thousands of different races and ethnic groups. These communities of immigrants often experience, in most cases, a great sense of inclusion and accommodation in settler countries such as England and Australia. Diversity is recognised and tolerated, with representations and establishment of their presence in the community sharing their mix of cultures with others whilst incorporating the dominant majority national identity unto their own. Policies are implemented by the government of the settler nation to address the concerns and needs of current citizens, community structure and incoming migrants. They aim to address certain problems with integration and assimilation of different cultural identities and try to minimise conflict and maximise assimilation efficiency, aiming to reduce the impact of current social structures and ideologies where possible. History of the settler country often moulds the modern approach to immigrant policy making, with ruling ideas influencing heavily of the intention and preferred outcome of the policies made. Englands historical management of invaded and colonised nations and ruling ideas pertain to emphasise the importance of political loyalty rather than placing emphasis on the abolition of individual cultural identity and race. Importance on specific values are also emphasised through policy making which are usually a common thread through different cultures and races as they are based on basic human rights and values (Jerzy & Secombe, 2005, pg. 210). This enables migrants to feel included in the nation state of the settler country whilst maintain their cultural and historical background and identities. Adapting policies to suit economical conditions and the wider concern of the dominant majority, English policies have varied over the last decade. Policies have been centred on labour market shortages, Commonwealth and colonial ties, ancestral connections and diplomatic leniency of certain ethnic and racial groups (Spenser, 1997). Current British policies focus on the skill level of migrants and their ability to integrate into the community as a contributing member of society rather than on race or ethnic background, with the intention of creating a multicultural functioning society. Alternatively Australia has held relatively controversial policies in the past such as the White Australia policy that did not tolerate those who did not fit the ideal national identity and aimed at minimising cultural and racial differences, moulding immigrants into the ideal Australian image held by the dominating majority and government at that time (Windschuttle, 2005). As the Australian government focused on adaptations of European ideologies, the indigenous population have also fallen victim to the harsh policies of racially selective culturally centred policies. Current Australian immigration policies now 1|Page

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Migration, Identity and Multiculturalism

focus on the integration of different cultures into society rather the assimilation and dispossession of existing cultural and racial identities. Policy makers are influenced by the idea of multiculturalism which is a political notion that equalises, identifies and protects the rights of defined minority groups based on race, sexuality, religion and ethnic background (Joppke, 1996). These policies allow for ethnic identification and the ability for immigrants to exercise their beliefs and cultural practices whilst still being recognised as a member of the nation state in which they settle. They create an environment in which a collaboration of existing virtues and ideologies of the dominant majority and the cultural and ethnic traditions can exist, breeding a sense of inclusion for minority migrant and ethnic groups. Although historically excluding certain races and ethnic groups, both Australia and England have adapted multicultural views of immigration and have allowed it to influence their policies. As a result migrant and minority ethnic groups are given the opportunity integrate in the community with a sense of inclusion. By giving them the opportunity and right to be a contributing member of society and the ability to identify with the settler nation state they are able to adapt to alternative cultural and racial differences whilst maintaining their core cultural heritage beliefs and practices. Integration of new migrants is essential as they establish a home, gain employment and interact with the dominant majority through community groups and events. Push and pull factors of both forced and choice migration as explained by Todaro (1969) often depend on the difference of income and the prospectus of obtaining a job in the settler country. Integration often leads to migrants becoming citizens and are dependent on legislation of the settler nation to grant this request as so they can be included into the national identity and have access to rights and privileges reserved for citizens. Individually immigrants may experience disadvantages with career prospects and education but collectively they are not as migrants from the same country prove to exceed the national economical and educational averages as well as fall below (Harvinghurst, 1970, p. 314). This indicates that ethnic minority groups and migrants do not fall victim to economical, employment and education disadvantages based on their citizen status, culture and race but are rather judged on their abilities and knowledge just as the dominant majority are. The British are a member of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects and enables migrants to fair treatment by the UK government. Becoming a British citizen is not exclusive to any particular race or ethnic migrant and the citizen. They must sit a test that is based on practical information on how social structures operate, how to contribute and participate in society and cultural aspects of British society. This is to mould and install the notion of what it means to be considered a part of the particular nation state and breed the mind set in which the dominant majority hold to enable cohesion into the national identity (Brubaker & Cooper, 2000). Those who pass the test must swear elegance to the queen and British democracy, neither forcing them to disown any other loyalties to other leaders of their home nations. All citizens are entitled to hold dual citizenships unless their country of origin does not permit it, meaning that in order to be included and deemed a British citizen does not mean ethnic and migrant minorities have to disregard their heritage or culture as a result of their choice. Australia has adapted much the same approach to citizenship with an importance placed on celebrating diversity in a harmonious community (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2012). Whilst engaging with the processes of becoming an Australian citizen, migrants must sit a test and pledge elegance to Australia and the rights and privileges of citizenship. These include freedom of democracy, access to welfare, voting and the ability for children born overseas to become citizens as a consequence of being a decent of a citizen. There is no 2|Page

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Migration, Identity and Multiculturalism

discrimination or limit on how many of each ethnic or racial minority group can become a citizen and all have equal access to the means and processes, eradicating any sense of seclusion from rights and privileges. There are no racial or ethnic exclusions of citizenship as long as each individual fulfils the other requirements for entitlement to citizenship, making both countries fair and inclusive of all minorities in the social makeup of the nation. Efficient integration into society is important in minimising struggle and conflict. Third party organisations proactively assist in the integration and settlement of new migrants. They provide guidance and information on entitlements, services and community groups of which migrants can find familiarity and companionship. Both England and Australia provide housing and settlement to refugee and migrants who have been granted permission to stay in the country regardless of how they entered. English organisations such as HSMP Forum Ltd. (2012) provide programs that aid settlement for migrants of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. They also lobby and engage with the government to change and influence immigration policy making in favour of the rights and needs of new migrants to Britain. Australia also has a number of organisations which aid and monitor the integration of migrants into society. These include the Immigration Advisory Council and the Good Neighbour Movement, both of whom minimise social problems between migrants and citizens and proactively organise efforts that help the integration of new settlers nation-wide (Opperman, 1966). These organisations and programs do not exclude any particular race or ethnic groups and provide equal access to all minority groups and individual migrants. They are organisations predominantly set up and run by members of the dominant majority to make sure fairness and equality applies to migrants as to be included and integrated into society appropriately. In this initial settlement cultural and racial differences do not exclude individuals from advancing their economical situation and education as they all have the opportunity and access to the means to do so, allowing them as equal to an individual from the dominant majority. Culture is an integral function greatly influencing how and when people interact with others and their communities. It shapes identity and is a learned behaviour that is engrained within an ethnic or racial group who share traditions, practices and beliefs (Jackson, 2009, p. 15). Integration of conflicting cultures can lead way for tension, prejudice, discrimination and exclusion of minority groups. Patterns have shown that immigrants originating from the same country tend to settle in specific areas and suburbs, developing sub-cultures and communities (Bell, et al, 2010). Attitudes play a huge role in the dominant majoritys acceptance of individuals belonging to minority and ethnic groups. Social tensions can cause rifts as diversity becomes a driver of hatred and violence creating exclusions of minority groups. Attitudes form when the dominant majority feel threatened by the impact and influx of migrants who greatly differ to the perceived ideal national identity especially when the nation state comes under fire and in times of war when citizens unite under the national identity (McCrone & Bechhofer, 2008). The modern era has brought about a major push to strengthen the British Identity across England, to unite all citizens under key values. The new government strategy is believed to minimise religious hatred and division of communities, equalising all groups of people and uniting them under a sole British identity (Winnett, 2012). The aim of the new approach to migrant subcultures is to integrate them with current and traditional English values, hoping to minimise extremism and strongly encourage the learning of the English language and history. As the core values of this approach are based on tolerance, democracy and freedom of speech and worship, it doesnt exclude any ethnic minorities but rather brings them together through new avenues to forge a new collective identity heavily influenced by the government and 3|Page

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the dominant majoritys portrayals of a typical British citizen. Immigrants and individuals from minority ethnic groups are not excluded and are encouraged to engage economically with the community, with the ability to own and operate small private business and run for parliament positions (Goldberg, 2001). Australia as a whole greatly support the notion of a culturally mixed society yet communities express the concern of social cohesion between minority groups and the dominant majority as well as between different minority groups themselves (Holton, 1998). This is a result of relatively small geographically concentrated pockets of migrant groups where social divisions have begun to form as a result of language and cultural barriers. These social divisions are lower compared to levels of social segregation and resulting violence in both the US and UK, but can periodically increase when social tensions increase due to circumstantial issues and events (Holton, 1998). Free societies can only work if there is mutual accommodation to central ideas and ideal cultural views. For ethnic groups and migrants to not feel excluded authoritarian control by the dominant group must be traded in for liberal views and a give and take system created. It is not widely a feeling of exclusion that manifests from notions of a uniformed national identity but rather a push for migrant and minority groups to change practices, beliefs and traditions in order to fit in with the socially accepted identity. England and Australia are great examples of migrant and minority ethnic group inclusion. Government policies promote safe and proactive integration of different races, cultures and heritages. This is done primarily through the commonality of humanisation and the basic rights in which both settler nations deem to be of utmost importance. Neither nation state demands complete identity reconstruction but rather a knowledge of the foundations of the nation, what it stands for and an understanding for the current culture. By emphasising the notion of freedom through understanding any massive sense of exclusion is minimised as each group becomes equal to that of the dominant majority. Both nation state governments engage with third party organisations to help reduce conflict and provide aid to integrate new migrants into society with relative ease. These are proactive measures by the state to accommodate to those who need help and provide avenues to participation in the wider community, further creating a sense of inclusion from the moment they are accepted as residents. Social attitudes prove to be the largest barrier for inclusion as social tensions can bread misconceptions and misunderstanding, leading to prejudice and criticism of particular minority groups. These tensions seem to go in waves, imitating global political and racial plights and are not always evident in society. Overall migrant and ethnic minorities groups are encouraged to interact with and be included in the local community and wider society of both England and Australia, making them favourable settler nations.

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Stephanie Baker Reference List

Migration, Identity and Multiculturalism

Bell, M., Kwesiga, E. and Berry, D, 2010, Immigrants: The new invisible men and women in diversity research, Journal of Managerial Psychology, volume 25, issue 2, pp. 177-188. Brubaker, R. and Cooper, F. 2000, Beyond identity, Theory and Society, volume 29, issue 1, pp. 1-47 Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2012, Australian citizenship why should I become a citizen?, Australian Government, accessed on 30th October 2012, <http://www.citizenship.gov.au/should_become/> Goldberg, B. 2001, A country of immigrants, Faces, Peterborough, volume 17, issue 7, pp. 14-15 Harvinghurst, R.J. 1970, Minority subcultures and the law of effect, American Psychologist, volume 25, issue 24, pp. 313-322. HSMP Forum Ltd. 2012, Official website of HSMP Forum Ltd. HSMP Forum Ltd., accessed on 30th October 2012, <http://www.hsmpforumltd.com/about.html> Jackson, W.A. 2009, The meaning of Culture, Economics, culture and social theory, Edwards Elgar. Jerzy, S. And Secombe, M. 2005, Globalisation, cultural diversity and multiculturalism: Australia, International handbook on Globalisation, Springer, Netherlands. Joppke, C. 1996, Multiculturalism and immigration: a comparison of the United States, Germany and the Great Britain, Theory and Society, volume 25, issue 4, pp. 449-500. McCrone, D. and Bechhofer F. 2008, National identity and social inclusion, Ethnic and Racial Studies, volume 31, issue 7, pp. 1245-1266. Opperman, H. 1966, Australias immigration policy, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra. Spenser, I. 1997, British immigration policy since 1938: the making of multi-racial Britain, Routledge, New York. Todaro, M.P. 1969, A model of labour migration and urban unemployment in less developed countries, American Economic Review, volume 59, issue 1, pp. 138-148. Windschuttle, K. 2005, The White Australia policy, The Sydney Papers, volume 17, issue 3/4, pp.128-134. Winnett, R. 2012, Immigrants will be expected to speak English and champion British culture, Telegraph, viewed on 30th October 2012, <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9095181/Immigrants-will-be-expected-tospeak-English-and-champion-British-culture.html>

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