‘ race’, racism and cultural identity week 3 lecture: race relations in britain: migration,...
TRANSCRIPT
‘Race’, Racism and Cultural IdentityWeek 3
Lecture: Race Relations in Britain: Migration, Inequality and the State
Structure
Recent patterns of migration Earlier migrants: minorities in BritainHow has migration, ‘race’ and racism
featured in British politics?Seminar: continuity and change: to what
extent can we predict the social and political outcome of recent migrations by looking at past experience?
Factors shaping race relations in Britain:
Patterns of migrationCapitalist development and, in particular,
the changing labour marketThe racism of the ‘host’ populationThe varied history, resources, culture
and aspirations of differing minority groups
The role of the State and social policy
Why is migration a ‘difficult’ issue for policy makers and politicians?
Conflicting pressures. Migration often provides clear economic benefits. Governments must also fulfil obligations relating to international law and international relations. BUT governments may also feel political pressures to restrict immigration and/or have concerns about its impact on social planning and social cohesion.
Concrete manifestation of the ways in which globalisation challenges the nation state as an entity of government and an ‘imagined community’ (Benedict Anderson).
Migration highlights contradictions between segmented national spaces and global capitalism
Can migration really be controlled? Examples: US experience, European ‘guest workers’.
‘Illegal’ workers in the USA
10-12 million workers?
Campaign to normalise their status
Minutemen
Minuteman Civil Defence Corps Mission Statement: To see the borders and coastal boundaries of the United States secured against the unlawful and unauthorized entry of all individuals, contraband, and foreign military. We will employ all means of civil protest, demonstration, and political lobbying to accomplish this goal.
Minutemen build their wall
‘Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall?’
I got 800 miles of open borderRight outside my doorThere’s minutemen in little pickup trucksWho declared their own dang war
Now the government wants to build a barrierLike old Berlin, 8 feet tallBut if Uncle Sam sends the illegals homeWho’s gonna build the wall
Who’s gonna build your wall, boysWho’s gonna mow your lawnWho’s gonna cook your Mexican foodWhen your Mexican maid is gone
Who’s gonna wax your floors tonightDown at the local mallWho’s gonna wash your baby’s faceWho’s gonna build your wall
(Tom Russell)
Los Angles May 2006
Les Sans-Papiers
Many of France's illegal immigrants have jobs and pay taxes but live in constant fear of deportation because they do not have the correct papers. French photographer, Fabien Breuvart, has put together a unique series of images of anonymous 'sans-papiers', posing with sympathetic French citizens displaying their ID, in a powerful display of solidarity
Independent 5/10/07
* There are between 310,000 and 570,000 illegal immigrants in the UK, according to Home Office estimates. If allowed to live legally, they would pay more than £1bn in tax each year
* Deporting them would cost £4.7bn and leave acute shortages of cleaners, care workers and hotel staff. If allowed to stay, the net benefit of nearly £6bn would pay for 300 new schools, 12 district hospitals or 200,000 new nurses
* Nearly 50% of foreign-born immigrants leave Britain within five years
* Migrants fill 90% of low-paid jobs in London and account for 29% of the capital's workforce. London is the UK's fastest-growing region
* Legal migrants comprise 8.7% of the population, but contribute 10.2% of all taxes. Each immigrant pays an average of £7,203 in tax, compared with £6,861 for non-migrant workers
* There were 25,715 people claiming asylum last year. If allowed to work, they would generate £123m for the Treasury
Newspapers and politicians blame asylum seekers and other migrants for:
Spread of diseaseFailing schools and hospitals House price rise and fallsLow wagesCrimeRoad accidentsProstitution
(Kundnani 2007)
Some headlines from 2003
‘Growing Danger on Our Roads’‘Now They’re After Our Fish’‘Asylum Seekers Are Pilfering Our Pike’‘Swan Bake- Asylum Seekers Steal the
Queen’s Birds for Barbecues’‘Asylum Seekers Ate Our Donkeys’
The changing politics of migration, race and racism
Global conflicts and the worldwide impact of free-market capitalism
Expansion of global knowledge economy Expansion of the European Union ‘Managed migration’ – managing flows of
people to provide economic benefits Emphasis on ‘community cohesion’ Tighter controls on migrants e.g. ID cards Hierarchies of migrants
Hierarchies of migrants
Rich versus restSkilled versus unskilledOld E.U. versus new E.U.E.U. versus non-E.U.Old Commonwealth versus New
Commonwealth