Models of ethnic integration

The first avenue is assimilation, meaning that immigrants abandon their original customs and practices, moulding their behaviour to the values and norms of the majority. An assimilationist approach demands that immigrants change their language, dress, lifestyles and cultural outlooks as part of integrating into a new social order. In the United States, which was formed as a “nation of immigrants”, generations of immigrants were subjected to pressure to become “assimilated” in this way, and many of their children became more or less completely “American” as a result. Most official policies in the UK have been aimed at assimilating immigrants into British society.

A second model is that of the melting pot. Rather than the traditions of the immigrants being dissolved in favour of those dominant among the pre-existing population, they become blended to form new, evolving cultural patterns. Not only are differing cultural values and norms “brought in” to a society from the outside, but diversity is also created as ethnic groups adapt to the wider social environments in which they find themselves.

Many have believed that the melting pot model is the most desirable outcome of ethnic diversity. Traditions and customs of immigrant populations are not abandoned, but contribute to and a constantly transforming social milieu. Hybrid forms of cuisine, fashion, music and architecture are manifestations of the melting pot approach. To a limited degree, this model is an accurate expression of aspects of American cultural development. Although the “Anglo” culture has remained the pre-eminent one, its character in some part reflects the impact of the many different groups that now compose the American population.

The third model is that of cultural pluralism. In this view, the most appropriate course is to foster the development of a genuinely plural society, in which the equal validity of numerous different subcultures is recognized. A pluralist approach regards ethnic minority groups as equal stakeholders in society, meaning that they enjoy the same rights as the majority population. Ethnic differences are respected and celebrated as vital components of larger national life. The United States and other Western countries are pluralistic in many senses, but ethnic differences have for the most part been associated with inequalities rather than equal but independent membership in the national community.

In Britain and elsewhere in Europe the leaders of most ethnic minority groups have increasingly emphasized the path of pluralism. To achieve “distinct but equal” status will demand major struggles, and as yet this is a very distant option. Ethnic minorities are still perceived by many people as a threat: a threat to their job, their safety and the “national culture”. The scapegoating of ethnic minorities is a persistent tendency. With the young in Western Europe quite often still holding similar prejudices to those of older generations, ethnic minorities in most countries face a future of continued discrimination, in a social climate characterized by tension and anxiety.

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Dimensions of globalization

You have probably heard many references to globalization, even if you are not entirely sure what it means. The concept of globalization is one that has become widely used in debates in politics, business and the media over the past few years. A decade ago, the term “globalization” was relatively unknown. Today it seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Globalization refers to the fact that we all increasingly live in “one world”, so that individuals, groups and nations become more interdependent.

Globalization is often portrayed solely as an economic phenomenon. Much is made of the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) whose massive operations stretch across national borders, influencing global production processes and the international distribution of labour. Others point to the electronic integration of global financial markets and the enormous volume of global capital flows. Still others focus on the unprecedented scope of world trade, involving a much broader range of goods and services than ever before.

Although economic forces are an integral part of globalization, it would be wrong to suggest they alone produce it. Globalization is created by the coming together of political, social, cultural and economic factors. It has been driven forward above all by the development of information and communication technologies that have intensified the speed and scope of interaction between people all over the world. As a simple example, think of the last football world cup, held in France. Because of global television links, some matches were watched by over 2 billion people across the world.

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