Content
1.
Introduction……………………………………………………….…..3
2. Migration and
Integration……………………………………….….....3
2.1Methods
of researching and summary…………………..…..…3
2.2
Definitions…………………………………………………….4
2.3
The nature of contemporary migration in London……………4
2.4
Short points of migration history……………………………..5
2.5
London’s demographic landscape…………………………….6
2.6
Integration……………………………………………………..7
2.6.1
Integration themes……………………………………7
2.6.2
Key findings…………………………………….……9
2.7
The census of London’s population 2011……………………..9
2.7.1
Key points…………………………………………….10
3. The riots in August
2011 in London…………………………………..11
4. Changes in Migration
policy in 2012………………………………….13
5. Conclusion……………………………………………………………..15
6. Bibliography………………………………………………………...…16
7.
Applications……………………………………………………………17
Introduction
We
know London to be a vast city with a highly-developed economy, culture, health
care and public relations. We also know the British to be well-mannered people,
proud of their traditions and a conservative way of life. On this background it
becomes odd to watch news about riots in London, to see buildings burn and
streets full of aggressive people.
So,
why did disorders and pogroms take place in the capital of the United Kingdom?
The recent affairs made me think of reasons of the riots. May be those people
who were crashing every window and starting fires were not natives? Perhaps
London has faced problems of immigration? This report is a part of the answer.
The aim of the paper is to research migration as a phenomenon of globalization
on the example of London. The tasks are to show the scales of migration in
London; to find reasons and to analyze consequences of the riots in August 2011;
to follow the British policy in this question.
This
focus on migration is intended to present multicultural world without borders.
Migration influence on our life is increasing more and more, especially it is
relevant for big cities. This report points to inevitability of coexistence of
different cultures in the city area. It has to teach tolerance in the world
with a constantly increasing population. Globalization in common and migration
in particular are challenges of the present, which next generations will have
to overcome in the future.
Methods
of researching and summary
Our
report is aimed to speak of immigration on the example of London. With this in
mind, our methods for this study were as follows: we read academic literature
on the theme and policy literature with as recent as possible primary data;
analyzed information from the Internet resources and observed newspaper reports
and TV issues. The document also tells the results of studying statistics and
Census of London’s Population, held in 2011.
This
work reports outrageous events of August 2011 in London as those affairs made
authorities and society speak and think of the problems of migration. On a
policy level, we hope to see changes in migration governing. As London was one
of the first cities in the world to face such protests of migrants, its
experience is valuable, because of the growth of the world migration as a
whole. In seeking to do this, we have much to learn about the consequences of
the riots.
Definitions
In
this report, we use a broad definition of migrants, following the Greater
London Authority’s Data Management and Analysis Group: “the term migrant
is used throughout the report to refer to all those born outside the United
Kingdom. It therefore relates migrants in the very broadest sense, ranging from
those whose residence is temporary..., to people whose settlement is long-term
and permanent.” However, some of the different data sources we have drawn upon
use the term in different ways, we have made it clear where this is in case. As
will be shown in the report, we are referring to a huge group of London’s
population, which will be explored through the statistical data.
It
is worth defining different types of migrants. A legal migrant is a person who
has been legally admitted to the UK with full migrant status. An asylum seeker
is a person who is given a temporary right to remain while their asylum
application is being processed. An illegal migrant is a person who enters the
country illegally, or stays on after an asylum application is rejected.
The nature of
contemporary migration in London
The
story of the man leaving home town for a big city in search of new opportunities
is narrative and familiar for us. That is, the cultural or social conditions at
home did not offer the potential for socially fulfilled life. The United
Kingdom is a very popular destination for people looking to live and work
overseas. We believe that such popularity is reasonable.
Firstly,
the British people are tolerant, they respect other people’s rights for own
religion and culture. It is the national trait of character. They are proud to
be the first to say no to racism and discrimination earlier than similar ideas
were recognized elsewhere in Europe.
Secondly,
England historically took part in different unions. It was a center of the Old Commonwealth,
and people from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa arrived in its
capital. The Countries of the New Commonwealth sent a new wave of migrants. Later
on the membership in the European Union let people move to new places, settle
and work legally within its territory. The migration from the new EU states
peaked in 2007 and has been declining since then.
In
the third, the UK labor demand made the migration policy simple and available
to all. The capital offers a variety of economic opportunities which provides
employment in diverse economic sectors and a large market of both skilled and
unskilled jobs. At the same time, Britain started earlier than other countries
with its policies to reduce and later block spontaneous immigration.
And
at last, the existence of communities from many countries can often give
support to new arrivals in terms of contact, employment, social activities and
religious facilities. The biggest Diasporas are the India’s (almost 700,000
people), the Poland’s (579,000 people) and the Pakistan’s (over 480,000
people). It is curious, but in the beginning of this century Poland was not
present at the top twenty countries, from where people moved to the British
Isles (application ) .
Short
points of migration history
So,
London is an attractive place to settle. “It is a migrant world capital”.
Immigration in London is not a recent phenomenon. Indeed, historians go back
250 years when looking for the origins of London as the “city of nations”.
Migration to the UK today is significantly different from that in previous
periods. Previously, main places of origin were countries tied to Britain
through its imperial heritage - in particular the countries of the Old and
especially New Commonwealth. From the 1980s, conflicts drove the global rise of
mass movement, and asylum became the main pathway to settlement in the UK, with
war-torn countries such as Sri Lanka and Somalia beginning to feature more
heavily in the arrivals. People left their home countries due to conflicts and
natural disasters. Further changes occurred as a result of the European Union. The
most significant change was the accession in 2004 of eight central and eastern
European Countries to the EU (Poland is among them), with legal right to settle
and work. Between 2004 and 2011 London’s population grew by over 390,000
people. The result of this wave is the Poland’s Diaspora in London (application
).
London’s
demographic landscape
London
houses migrants within different regions. People try to settle nearby their fellow
countrymen. The city itself is a patchwork of such communities: the Caribbean
community in Brixton and Tottenham, the Bengali community in Tower Hamlets, the
Greek and Cypriot communities of Green Lanes, the French community in Soho, the
Italian community in Clerkenwell, the Irish community in Kilburn, the Turkish
community in Dalston, the Jewish community in the East End (application ).
Some
Diasporas made their districts the sightseeing of London. For example, the best
restaurants serving karri are in Brick Lane. There are over 40 of them; some
entice clients by speaking ironically of the British Monarchy. While waiting
for the meal you can watch comics “Prince Harry as Agent007” painted on the
walls. The India’s Diaspora is the friendliest, and at the same time one of the
most privileged. They are even allowed to ride bikes in turbans on their heads,
instead of helmets.
One
of the London regions Ealing can be called “Small Poland”. There are more the
Polish there than ladies and gentlemen. The Times or tabloids are not sold there,
instead of that, Polish newspapers are given free. There are many Polish shops
in the district; all signs are written in Polish. That’s why one can live
there, even without knowing English. The Polish loved London for the
opportunities of to earn money and to spend time with pleasure.
Integration
On
this background, it is important to mention about the process of integration. “It
involves engagement by both migrants and by individuals and institutions of the
receiving society”. Integration is a series process of interaction and
participation which begin the moment someone arrives in a place, whether they
are staying for months or for life. They occur in different domains, economic,
social, cultural relations, each of which is related and which need to be
considered together and not in isolation.
Every
receiving country must have laws to control migration and to integrate the
migrants into the society. The British Mass Media gave strong critics to the
issues. The development of policy frameworks for addressing new migration
population had been slow in catching up with the new situation. Since 2006,
there had been considerable growth in the evidence base and body of practice,
but it continued to lag behind the reality. The Mayor published London
Enriched, his Strategy for Refugee Integration, in December 2009. It set out to
define and implement his vision for refugee integration in London. That vision
saw “refugees living in security and dignity, sharing with all Londoners the
same chances for a decent quality of life and the opportunity to contribute to
London and its development”. Many Londoners gave their views, through a range
of events designed to attract people of all ages and backgrounds. There are
some basic integration themes.
Integration
themes
The
English language acquisition is absolutely central to integration, but not
along. The authorities believe that migrants can attend courses, programs in
local communities, enhancing pedagogy by building in personal and community
development, good contacts with employers, and gearing learning toward
facilitating integration processes, including labor force integration and
social interaction. Clearly, this is a priority area for London, but a more
sustained analysis is required in order to set out clear policy interventions
at a London level.
Equal
life chances for all and partnership working are two strategic issues.
Achieving this means balancing the universal entitlements to which all migrants
have rights, regardless of status, with a sense of fairness at the local level.
Migrants
have limited access to social housing and are concentrated in the private
rented sector. Perceptions of migrants jumping the housing queue are related to
wider shortages in the housing market. Migrant are also more vulnerable to
homelessness and to poor accommodation conditions in the rented sector.
Migrants
face health inequalities because of the barriers they experience in access to
health care, including restrictions on their entitlement, institutional
barriers, language barriers and (for irregular migrants) avoidance of contact
with officialdom.
Community
development is a key to migrant integration. Evidence shows that a number of
stakeholders have ability, skills and experience to offer migrant integration,
including local authorities, the voluntary and community sector, community
development, as well as trade unions and employers.
At
a national and regional level migrants contribute positively to the economy and
to income levels. Migration may have a slight negative impact on job vacancies
and wages. Overall migrant employment rates do not differ considerably from
non-migrants. Traditionally the natives complain on the migrants have taken
their working places.
According
to the questioning made by London Questions&Answers (an organization works
for Wikipedia) the predominant jobs among the Polish are a builder, a plumber
or a locksmith. The people from Asia are drivers of double-deckers or sellers
of spices. The Caribbean migrants are showmen and DJs, the Philippine people
are cleaners… and the Russians are marvelous brides.
Key
findings
It
is worth mentioning that there are a number of barriers to the processes of
migrant integration, including English language proficiency, barriers to full
labor market participation, to suitable accommodation, and to accessing health
care, as well as lack of clarity on entitlements.
A
strategy for migrant integration in London needs to take account of local
differences, including the inner and outer London patterns, but can take
advantage of the ways in which Londoners, as citizens of a world city, often
have a positive attitude towards diversity.
On
the authority level migrants need targeted employment support, planning for
emerging health needs, support for migrant community organizations, the
development of the evidence base, regulation in the private rented housing
sector and in the low pay economy, embracing migrants in the statutory duty to
promote equality, and harnessing partners in civil society.
From
our point of view the enlarging of ethnic and religious content of population
leads to the tension in the society.
The
census of London’s population 2011
The
census of population is a count of all people and households in the UK, undertaken
by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in England and Wales, the
government department that provides statistical services. It is the only survey
which provides a detailed picture on the entire population, and is unique
because it covers everyone at the same time and asks the same core questions
everywhere, making it easy to compare different parts of London. There has been
a Census every ten years since 1801, except during the Second World War in
1941. The latest census of population was conducted on 27th of March 2011.
The
census of population provides essential statistical information which enables
the monitoring of demand and planning for public services.
According
to the 2011 Census London’s population is 8,173,941 people. The data
revealed that 2,998,264 people or 36.7% of London’s population are foreign born
(application ). As such, migrants make up a third of population. It is also
the region where migrants make up the largest proportion of the overall
population in the world. London is also the region with the lowest proportion
of people with no passport, at 8 per cent. The five local authorities with the
lowest proportion of people with no passports in London are Kensington,
Chelsea, City of London, Westminster, Camden and Brent.
London’s
migrant population differs in some ways from London’s population as a whole. In
terms of stock, the migrant population is younger than the total population in
London. Migrants in London are more likely to be married or cohabiting, with
dependent children.
Sociologists
pointed that reducing of the Christians and the growth of Muslims are
continuing. This is true for the religious tension in London. But still the
largest religious grouping is Christian (48.4per cent), Muslims are 12.4 per
cent, Hindus are 5 per cent, Jews are 1.8 per cent. It is remarkable that those
of no religion are 20.7 per cent, and people with no response are 8.5 per cent.
Key
points
The
current picture of international migrant in England and Wales using 2011 census
is as follows.
Two
key variables have been used to define international migrants: country of birth
and passport held (to determine nationality).
The
most common non-UK countries of birth in 2011 were India, Poland and Pakistan.
Poland showed by far the largest percentage increase in the top ten countries
of birth.
There
were 4.8 million non-UK passports, of these, 2.3 million were EU passports.
Around
half of all usual residents on census day who were born outside the UK last
arrives in the UK between 2001 and 2011.
The
largest numerical increases in residents born outside were in London and the
South East. London had both the largest proportion of usual residents born
outside the UK (37% of its population) and non0UK nationals (24% of its
population).
Some
people born abroad will be UK citizens, either because their parents were UK
citizens overseas at the time of their birth, or because they have been granted
UK citizenship since arriving.
The
riots in August 2011 in London
The
disorder that took place in various towns and cities across England in August
2011 was unprecedented in the modern era because of the number of different
incidents taking place in different locations over the same period of time. The
riots began on 6 August 2011 after a protest in Tottenham, on the evening of
Saturday 6 August, following the protest about the death of Mark Duggan, who had
been shot dead by the police officer on Thursday 4 August. During Sunday 7
August, disorder occurred in other areas of London. Further disturbances took
place in London on Monday 8 August, when the riots began to spread to other
towns and cities, including Birmingham and Bristol. Things got so out of hand
that the police lost control of London, and other cities as well. On Tuesday 9
August, the disturbances continued, spreading to cities including Reading and
Manchester.
During
the riots, business, homes and vehicles were set alight, shops were looted, the
emergency services and television crews were attacked and five member of the
public were killed. Over 100 buildings were destroyed. By 15 August 3,100
people had been arrested, of whom more than 1,000 had been charged. Along with
the five deaths, at least 16 others were injured as a direct result of related
violent acts. Shopkeepers estimated the damages at several million pounds
(application ). The riots caused the irretrievable loss of heritage
architecture.
Several
countries issued warning advising caution to travelers visiting the United
Kingdom during the riots.
The
Sun called the scenes “shameful” and proposed that “with the London Olympics
less than a year away, our reputation is being damaged at the worst moment”. It
added: “This is anarchy, pure and simple. And it presents a serious threat to
life and property”.
The
Daily Telegraph’s editorial said: “what we have experienced in London and
elsewhere since Saturday night is a wholly new phenomenon: violent disorder
whose sole intent is criminal... In such circumstances, there can be only one
response if the law-abiding majority is to be protected: the thugs must be
taught to respect the law of the land the hard way."
In
the article titled “UK Leader Blames Riots on Moral Collapse” the UK government
blamed “social networks, flash mobs incited by social media, and the advent of
these personal technologies allowing large groups of people to amass very
quickly and overrun the police.”
The
discussions in the Internet showed public opinion towards the events. “Have we
become too tolerant in the name of tolerance? Have we become too politically
correct to demand orderly conduct from the electorate? Have we gone too far out
of our way to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy to the point at which we can no
longer enforce our way of life and our laws in our civilization?” was asked by
Lance Wilson.
It
is important to analyze and understand why riots did not happen in some cities.
Indeed, this is every bit as important as understanding why riots and looting
did happen on other locations. For example, in Cardiff, there were only
isolated attempts to mimic the riots in England. These variations need to be
probed to discover whether there were characteristics in common.
A
number of reasons including high levels of unemployment and a worsening
economic crisis have been sited as the reasons for the outbreak of the British
Riots of 2011. It is also a deepening lack of racial cohesion and
discrimination against racial minorities. Another major contributor was a
growing suspicion and animosity towards the police.
The
statistics tell us that 76% of those who appealed before the courts for
offences related to the disorder had a previous caution or conviction. The
ministry of Justice data shows that of the 1.984 suspects 26 % were aged
between 10 and 17. The Ministry of Justice stated: “Young people appearing
before the courts came disproportionately from different areas.” According to
the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 37% of suspects were migrants. So, we
can conclude, that the riots had more criminal nature, than sociable.
But
still the disorders excited much political debates and media attention. Some
ideas went from tabloids headlines to the policy documents and changes in the
House of Commons.
Changes
in Migration policy in 2012
The
changes concerned students first of all. It is clear, as youth took an active
part in the riots in 2011.
Over
the last decade or so the number of international students coming to the UK
increased substantially. UK Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) were
encouraged by government to attract high fee-paying graduates. In addition,
other education providers, such as language and vocational colleges and public
schools also attracted large numbers of students. In the face of growing
evidence that in some cases international students were being admitted for
courses which did not exist and were instead entering the labor market
illegally, it was inevitable that the government should take steps to bring the
entry rout under closer control.
In
April 2012 a number of changes were introduced, designed to reduce
international student numbers, the changes were contentious with strong
opposition coming from HEIs which have come to rely increasingly on fees paid
by international students. There was also opposition from ‘feeder’ colleges,
mainly language institutions, which provided pre-undergraduate foundation
courses.
The
new measures were:
- work placements were
restricted to one-third of the course, unless the student is on a study abroad
program;
- the time students can
spend at degree level is limited to 5 years, with certain exemptions for longer
courses at higher education institutions.
The government
announced further developments to labor immigration policy, designed to
increase selectivity. Prospective workers need to have a graduate level job and
speak an intermediate level of English. In August 2012 the Minister for
Immigration announced the further shortage of occupation list.
Other changes
were: curtailment (cutting short the leave a migrant has if they fail to start
to work or study); a new visitor route for small groups of professionals,
artists, entertainers or sportspeople coming to undertake short-term
remunerated activities (up to a month) without formal sponsorship.
Moreover, a new-
comer will face the new financial requirements. The Migration Advisory
Committee had been asked to advise on a minimum income threshold that would
ensure that the sponsor could support his/her partner and any dependants
without them becoming ‘a burden on the state’, the MAC considered different
ways of defining and measuring this, finally calculating a gross income figure
“at the point at which the family is not entitled to receive any income-related
benefits”. Those using the family route to come to the UK must be capable of
being supported by their sponsor and/or by their own cash savings or
non-employment income.
From October
2013, all applicants for settlement will be required to pass the Life in the UK
test and present an English language speaking. It is not obvious, therefore,
how the new rules will affect inflow and outflow figures.
The Statement of
Intent covers a range of issues, such as forced marriages, sham marriages and
deportation of criminals.
Conclusions
In
the previous chapter we considered the ways in which the changes had been
carried out. As we could follow the changes, the UK government took the
consecutive steps. Young people participated mostly in the riots in August
2011. The measures were taken within the year: to reduce the number of foreign
students. Also the government changed labor immigration policy, inviting
workers of skillful jobs or professionals, such as artists and sportsmen.
Moreover, it made migrants pay for the arrival. It looks like insurance from
similar disorders. With the help of statistics we proved that the riots had had
some criminal nature, and the government announced of deportation of criminals.
In addition to this, the knowledge of English would be required to every new-comer.
In this we see an attempt to integrate migrants into the UK culture and
society. This report points to unmistakable conclusion that the UK government
worked effectively and considered.
Migration
as a phenomenon of globalization was researched on the example of London, the
migrant world capital. The scales of migration are so impressive that the
experience of London needs to be studied, as well as the problems of
integration. From time to time news reports migrants’ willingness to live on
their own in London. For example, the demand of Muslims to cover women’s faces,
when they are in the Muslims districts, or forced marriages. And it is always
interesting to know how the British cope with a situation. The situation is
unique as the natives in London are not the majority any more.
While
working on the theme, we had a chance to think over such terms as globalization,
multiculturalism and tolerance. In our opinion The Old Brits are the most
tolerant nation in the world; they can respect other people’s rights,
religions, privacies, and even customs, holidays and clothes. Will the New
Brits be like them? What will dominate in their multicultural world: tolerance
or traditions of New People of Her Majesty?
Notwithstanding
the evident problems, the British continue to believe that “variety is better
than monotony”.
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