super-diversity by steven vertovec

and Its implications

SUPER-DIVERSITY

Analiza Perez-AmuraoPhD in Multicultural

Studies

Super-diversity and its Implications Introduction Diversity in Britain New Immigrants & the emergence

of super-diversity Super-diversity: Social scientific

challenges Super-diversity: Policy challenges Conclusion

Introduction

“world in one city” idea

“In 2012, our multicultural diversity will mean every competing nation in the Games will find local supporters as enthusiastic back home” (www.london2012.org/en/city/onecity).

transformative ‘diversification of diversity’

More ethnicities & countries of origin

Multiplication of significant variables

Introduction

Variables Resulting in DiversityEthnicity

Differential immigration statusesEntitlements & restrictions of rightsDivergent labor market experiencesDiscrete gender & age profilesPatterns of spatial distribution

Mixed local responses by service providers & residents

Introduction

SUPER-DIVERSITY Introduction

Super-diversity

Differential immigration

statusesEntitlements & restrictions of

rights

Ethnicity

Divergent labor market

experiences

Discrete gender & age

profiles

Patterns of spatial

distribution

Mixed local responses by

service providers & residents

“…the article serves as a call, or at least a reminder, to social scientists and policy-makers to make more sufficient account of the conjunction of ethnicity with a range of other variables when considering the nature of various ‘communities,’ their composition, trajectories, interactions and public service needs.” ---Steven Vertovec

Introduction

“[T]heories developed in the past may

have only limited application in the study of multi-group relations

today.”

--Eric Fong and Kumiko Shibuya, 2005, 613

Introduction

“[T]he city was populated by Cymric Brythons and Belgae, by remnants of the

Gaulish legions, by East Saxons and Mercians, by Danes, Norwegians and

Swedes, by Franks and Jutes and Angles,

mingling togetherto form

a distinct tribe of

‘Londoners’”

(Ackroyd, 2000, p. 702).

all mingled and

Diversity in Britain

Late 12th century:

Locals throughout Britain complained that all sorts of foreigners were practicing their own customs.

Early 16th century:

Such intolerance, starting from the 12th century, piled up & led to riots.

Mid-18th century:

Fight between those with “culturally cosmopolitan” outlooks & populist xenophobic attitudes broke out.

19th century:

Poets/ Writers said London was “one of the most composite populations to be found in the world (Holmes,

1997, p. 10).

19th- 20th centuries: Significant immigration came from the Irish and the Jews.


Post-war: Large-scale immigration of African-Caribbean &

South Asian peoples prompted a set of changes in public

policy.


Post-war: Large-scale immigration of African-Caribbean &

South Asian peoples prompted a set of changes in public

policy.


diversity management strategy

1950s – 1970s: Period when the experience of people from Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana & other West Indies places, together with India, Pakistan & Bangladesh was used in most discourses, policies, & understanding of migration &

multiculturalism.


1960s – 1970s: Period when rights of entry were gradually restricted until only families of

settled migrants could enter.

Large & organized communities were formed.

* community associations

* places of worship

Overall goal was promotion of tolerance & respect for collective identities.

* supporting associations & activities

* monitoring diversity in the workplace

* encouraging positive images in the media & public spaces

* modifying public services (health, education, policing, & courts)


MULTICULTURALISM-was conceived mainly in terms of the African-Caribbean & South Asian

communities of British

citizens.

-hardly gave attention & space to new, smaller, less organized, legally differentiated & non-citizen

immigrant groups.

- The growth of these groups radically transformed

Britain’s social landscape.


Vertovec’s call to action: “…to re-evaluate – in social scientific

study as well as policy- the nature of diversity in

Britain today” (p.16).


New immigrants & the emergence of super-diversity


Early 1990s:Marked rise in net immigration & a diversification of countries of origin which coincided with 6 parliamentary measures.

The Asylum & Immigration Acts of 1993, 1996, & 1999The Nationality, Immigration & Asylum Act 2002The Asylum & Immigration Act 2004The Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Bill 2005

‘the new migration’

‘the new immigrants’

multiple dimensions of differentiation

Net inflows


Since1994:UK net inflows of people

-Britain’s high economic performance

-Growing inequalities in many developing & middle income countries

Languages


“Still, it is now often proclaimed with pride that 300 languages are spoken in London” (p.1032). Vertovec says…

Religions


“…among immigrants to Britain, Christianity is the main religion for people born in all continents except Asia….”“…Asia-born…are more likely to be Muslim…”

“For many, religions tend to be broadly equated with countries of origin….”

Vertovec says…

Migration channels & immigration statuses


WorkersStudentsSpouses & family membersAsylum-seekers & refugeesIrregular, illegal or undocumented migrants

New citizens

Gender


“Indeed many basic features of super-diversity- especially the inter-related patterns surrounding immigrants’ country of origin, channels of migration, legal status

and rights- tend to have highly gendered patterns” (cf. Kofman et al. 2005).

Age


“Variance in age structure among various ethnic groups reflects different patterns of fertility and mortality as well as migration” (GLA, 2005a, p. 6).

Age profiles a decade ago

New immigrant population

Space/ place


“New immigrants often settle in areas with established immigrant communities from the same country of birth” (Vertovec, 2007, p. 1041).

Space/ place


But reports like “London: the world in one city," or “The world in one country” came out misleading, with the Guardian making “a mistake in suggesting certain groups are fixed to certain places.”“…increased diversification…is not a matter of increased numbers but relative change in a given locality.”

“One major avenue by which newcomers have come to places of previously low immigrant density has been through government dispersal …to relieve pressure on councils…[dispersing] people seeking asylum.”

Space/ place


“New immigrants with less established networks and patterns of settlement are currently being drawn to locations with a wider range of employment opportunities….”

Transnationalism


“…the extent and degree of transnational engagement has intensified due in large part to

changing technologies and

reduced telecommunication

and travel costs” (p.1043).

Transnationalism


FACTORS INFLUENCING TRANSNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Migration channel & legal statusMigration & settlement historyCommunity structureGendered patterns of contactPolitical circumstances in the homelandEconomic means

Super-diversity: Social Scientific challenges

PROBLEM: The manner of studying immigrants is still based on the Chicago school of urban studies done in the early & mid-part of the last century looking comparatively at processes of assimilation which masked clear comparison of groups overlooking significant trends.The sheer diversity of old-timers & new immigrants

The existence of social dynamics differentiated by variable conglomerations of race, immigration status, gender, economic activity and neighborhood.The existence of other variables such as age, income and occupational types.

The development of other techniques for research.

Super-diversity: Social Scientific challengesThe sheer diversity of old-timers & new immigrants

The existence of social dynamics differentiated by variable conglomerations of race, immigration status, gender, economic activity and neighborhood.The existence of other variables such as age, income and occupational types.The development of other techniques for research.

New patterns of inequality & prejudiceNew patterns of segregationNew experiences of space & ‘contact’New forms of cosmopolitanism & creolisationNew ‘bridgeheads’ of migrationsSecondary migration patternsTransnationalism & integrationMethodological innovation

Research policy nexus

Super-diversity: Policy challenges

SUPER-DIVERSITY impacts on the

current development of public policies & practices.

Community organizations

Public service delivery

Conclusion

SUPER-DIVERSITY arises from the complex interplays of the various factors mentioned.

Changes “require social scientists to go beyond existing theoretical frameworks & methodology to explore the complexity of the multiethnic group context” (Fong & Shibuya, 2005, p. 299). “Discovering and acknowledging the nature and extent of diversity is a crucial step in the development of adequate policies…” (Vertovec, 2007, p. 1050)

“…policy responses to

diversification rest on political will and vision” (Vertovec, 2007, p. 1050).

Vertovec, S. (2007). Super-diversity and its implications, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 30: 6, 1024-1054.

Reference

super-diversity by steven vertovec

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