ISBSS 2014
The International Symposium on Social Sciences
December 29-31, 2014, Hong Kong
Conference Highlight-Best Paper Award
Conference Highlight-Cultural Experiences
Chinese Rainbow Calligraphy
Keynote Speech
Ethnic Segregation within Contemporary Britain's Communities
Dr Jamie Halsall
Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences
School of Human and Health Sciences
The University of Huddersfield
Queensgate, Huddersfield, UK
Email: j.p.halsall@hud.ac.uk
Abstract:
The population of ethnic minorities in Britain has rapidly increased over the last 60 years. The census count indicates that the ethnic population has grown from 3 million in 1991 to 4.6 million in 2001. Issues surrounding ethnic minorities have duly been concerned with education, employment and housing. In 2001 civil unrest erupted in England’s northern mill towns. The inquiries concluded that white and British Asian communities were living parallel lives. This was seen to be a failure within the communities and of social policy. Segregation was cited as a contributory factor. Moreover, in 2005, Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, warned that Britain was sleepwalking into racial segregation, with white, black and British Asian ghettos dividing cities. To tackle the segregation problem central government introduced the community cohesion policy with the aim of developing a better understanding of shared values between all origins of race, thereby celebrating diversity within Britain. The aims of this research were to consider whether British Asian communities are segregated and to examine the viability of current central government policy in promoting and securing greater community cohesion. Oldham in Greater Manchester was selected as the focus of the investigation.
