Integration is a complex process that can rarely be captured by looking into one or two adaptation outcomes. This paper explores the barriers to the civic integration of migrants and minorities in Britain and in particular examines the question of whether growing presence of co-ethnics in the neighbourhood area has a detrimental effect upon the integration process. The results are mixed. Some important integration outcomes such as employment prospects, identity with Britain rather than own ethnicity are not being influenced by co-ethnic concentration while others, among them fluency in English, customs adoption and British rather than religious identity, fare worse in strong co-ethnic scenarios. Lack of contact with outgroupers explains entirely or a large proportion of this negative relationship which leads us to conclude that with greater promotion of contact, the civic integration process in Britain will be strengthened. The paper also highlights the great integration leap that has happened in the 1.5 and 2nd generation compared to the first.
Presented by:
Neli Demireva (University of Essex, Dept. of Sociology)
Date & time:
January 22, 2014 1:00 pm
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