Living Diversity – Shaping Society: The Opportunities and Challenges Posed by Cultural Difference in Germany by Bertelsmann Stiftung

Author:Bertelsmann Stiftung [Stiftung, Bertelsmann]
Language: deu
Format: epub
Tags: Public Policy, Political Science, General
ISBN: 9783867938471
Google: 9r94DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung
Published: 2018-05-15T10:43:55+00:00

The search for new role models: A comparison of Germany and the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is the European country most suited to provide pointers on how to promote religious diversity without discrimination. For UK citizens, the idea that Muslims, Sikhs and members of other minority groups can serve as members of parliament, public prosecutors, professors, actors, news anchors, artists, athletes, police officers and soldiers – all of whom represent the nation and contribute to the common good – is obvious. Their manner of dress and skin color is irrelevant to the job. In fact, the United Kingdom is very good at instilling a sense of belonging in its own citizens, regardless of their background or religious faith.

Although more than half of British Muslims were born outside the country, a staggering 73 percent of them identify as British only. This number is surpassed only by Sikhs, of which 81 percent consider themselves to be exclusively British, regardless of their global connections. Almost two-thirds of Muslims consider themselves to be explicitly proud to be British (MCB 2015: 34). This high degree of identification with the country to which they or their forefathers immigrated must be seen as an indicator of extraordinarily successful integration. Indeed, Germany can boast no comparably high degree of identification among its new citizens.

And yet, even in the United Kingdom, we see the impact of an integration paradox. The fact that Muslims and Sikhs identify with their country is only partially acknowledged by the white, non-immigrant population. A survey of 6,000 non-Muslim British children and adolescents by “Show Racism the Red Card,” an education initiative now also active in Germany, found that approximately one-third of respondents either entirely or partially agreed with the statement that “Muslims are taking over our country.” According to another survey, barely half of all non-Muslim British people believe that Muslims actually share “British values” (EHRC 2015: 77, 80).

Interestingly, this situation – whereby the progressive integration of immigrant cultures goes hand in hand with a constant or growing distance from parts of the white majority – also has a socio-spatial correlation. For example, research findings call into question the cliché of ethnically homogenous residential areas and segregated “parallel societies.” On the contrary, research in England and Wales has shown that, instead of having one ethnic group steadily spreading within a residential area, population groups have been growing increasingly mixed. This is particularly true of the inner and outer districts of London and other urban centers. In fact, segregation is on the decline for all ethnic groups as defined by the UK census – though with one significant exception: The only group to show a stabile propensity toward self-segregation from the rest of society is “white British” (MCB 2015: 16, 27).

These prejudices and compartmentalizing tendencies of parts of the white population have repercussions for society. As a recent UK government report shows, Muslims are “the most disadvantaged faith group in the UK labour market” (SMC 2017: 6). Although this discrimination has many different causes depending on the group under study (Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Somalis, etc.

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