Multicultural Britain: identity or diversity?
Many people have
come to Britain over the centuries –through invasion, as a result of Britain’s
expansion into the world, or to seek refuge (safety) from political or religious
persecution. The history of immigration to Britain has produced today’s
uniquely diverse nation. There is now an estimated minority ethnic population
of more than 41⁄2 million or 7.9% of the population. Many young people move to Britain for a few
years to work and then return to their country of origin. They are American,
Australian, French, Polish – in fact from all over the world. The numbers in
other groups, such as Jewish, Cypriot, Turkish, Eastern European and people from
other parts of the European Union, are not known but add further to the ethnic
diversity of the British population.
MULTICULTURALISM: noun, the presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
Watch a short video about British multicultural society here
Discuss the questions :
1. What problems does multiculturalism bring into a country?
2. Are there any good things about multiculturalism?
3. Do you think multiculturalism will eventually lead to a single world mixed race?
4. Why are many people afraid of multiculturalism?
5. In a multicultural society, should newcomers do what they can to assimilate into the culture of their new country?
6. Can multiculturalism result in a country losing its identity?
Robin
Cook's chicken tikka masala speech
Tonight I want to celebrate Britishness*.
As Foreign Secretary I see every day the importance of our relations with
foreign countries to the strength of our economy, to the security of our
nation, to the safety of our people against organised crime, even to the health
of our environment. A globalised world demands more foreign contacts than even
Britain has experienced in the past.
I also know that we are likely to make
our way more successfully in the world if we are secure in our British
identity, and confident about its future. That security and confidence is
important for the inner strength it gives us in our conduct of business with
others. I want to argue the case why we can be confident about the strength and
the future of British identity. Sadly, it has become fashionable for
some to argue that British identity is under siege, perhaps even in a state of
terminal decline. The threat is said to come in two forms. First, the arrival of immigrants who,
allegedly, do not share our cultural values and who fail to support the England
cricket team. Few dare to state this case explicitly, but it is the
unmistakable subliminal message. Second, the devolution of power to
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is seen as a step to the break-up
of the UK.
This evening, I want to set out the
reasons for being optimistic about the future of Britain and Britishness.
Indeed, I want to go further and argue that in each of the areas where the
pessimists identify a threat, we should instead see developments that will
strengthen and renew British identity.
Multicultural Britain
The first element in the debate about the future of Britishness is the changing ethnic composition of the British people themselves. The British are not a race, but a gathering of countless different races and communities, the vast majority of which were not indigenous to these islands.
We should be proud that those British values have made Britain a successful multi-ethnic society. We should welcome that pluralism as a unique asset for Britain in a modern world where our prosperity, our security and our influence depend on the health of our relations with other peoples around the globe.
*BRITISHNESS: noun, the quality of being British or of having characteristics regarded as typically British
Adapted from The Guardian
What is the unique face of modern Britain?
Describe and discuss the picture:
