migration in contemporary britain davide però and elisabetta zontini identity, citizenship and...
TRANSCRIPT
Migration in Contemporary Britain
Davide Però and Elisabetta ZontiniIdentity, Citizenship and Migration Centre(University of Nottingham)
TCN meeting,
Marsala, 8-9 April 2010
Introduction
• New Migrations in Britain
• Policy Context
• Political Rights
• Employment
• Best Practices
New Migrations in Britain
• UK as a country of new immigrations and ‘superdiversity’ (Vertovec 2006)
Total in thousands
Work Related in thousands
Inflow 512 202
Outflow 395 209
Net +118 -7
Thousands %British 71 14
Foreign 440 84Total 512 100
Inflow by nationality, 2008Source: Metcalf, 2009.
Policy Context
• 1960-2000: Multiculturalism
• 2000s: Neo-assimilationism and backlash against diversity
• Renewed hostility against migrants
...Policy Context
• Government Policy increasingly unfavourable
• New naturalisation rules (Citizenship Test)
• ‘earned’ and ‘probationary’ citizenship
• Introduction of the Points Based System for migrant workers
• Raise in racist incidents (Council of Europe)
Political rights
• No voting rights for migrants from non-Commonwealth countries
• No general election vote for EU citizens
• Migrants not politically passive
Employment
• Most common reasons for non-EU migration = study and family
• Migrant workers = deskilling, exploitation and discrimination in the job market
• Higher unemployment rates and concentration in low paid ‘elementary jobs’
• Asylum seekers excluded from labour market destitution
Best Practices
• Strangers into Citizens
• Justice for Cleaners
• Migrants Rights Networks
• Migrants’ Health Rights Campaign
• Cultural Politics