Events held in 2007
Franco-British Collaborative Workshops
Two models - One Integration Crisis?
London - April 2007
Immigrant/minority conditions and policy options in France and Britain
Paris - November 2007
The French riots of 2005 and British riots of 2001 and 2005 exacerbated already heightened public and policy concerns, in each national context, regarding the nature of immigrant and ethnic minority integration. Given what are purported to be two opposing visions of integration - one based on universalism and common citizenship verses one centred on anti-discrimination and multiculturalism - observers of the riots have been struck by what seem to be common outcomes, or failures, of both political models. In each country high levels of discrimination, widespread segregation and social exclusion, insufficient political voice and a range of poor socio-economic conditions have fuelled discontent, community tensions and a lack of hope for the future among ethnic minorities - particularly among youths. By way of political discussions and policy options, in France and Britain responses to these two sets of circumstances since 2005 have included surprising shifts that seem to suggest that the two nation-states are moving toward each other's models.
Under the auspices of the joint Franco-British Research Councils Collaborative scheme, two workshops were organized by COMPAS and the Institut National d'Etudes Démographiques (INED), Paris. The workshops brought together academics, policy-makers and practitioners to explore the models, outcomes, and future policy options surrounding the integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities in the UK, France and Europe more widely. The workshops and their subsequent reports will aim to contribute significantly toward better understanding current conditions and more sharply fashioning integration policy development.
Click here for background paper, available in English and French.
Click here for workshop reports.
Metropolis Conference 2007
Melbourne, Australia
Accommodating diversity: do current critiques of multiculturalism miss the point?
Convenor: Ellie Vasta, COMPAS, The University of Oxford
Throughout Europe there appears to be a retreat from the principles and policies of multiculturalism and a shift to approaches labelled as 'integration' and 'social cohesion'. These seem often to be euphemisms for a return to the assimilationist principles of the past, which had been largely rejected since the 1960s. There is a widespread view that pluralist or multicultural approaches to immigrant inclusion have failed and that a large part of the blame lies with multiculturalism and immigrants themselves. Similar debates are occurring in Australia whereas in Canada, multiculturalism is more socially entrenched. This workshop explored the ideological, political and socio-economic foundations and changes in immigration discourses (i.e. in policy and in the public discourse) in countries of immigration such as: Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Click here for programme details and to download presentations.
From Multiculturalism to Social Cohesion: What Works?
Convenor: Sarah Spencer, COMPAS, University of Oxford
The workshop compared approaches to immigrant integration in three immigrant-receiving countries, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands. All three countries receive migrants through various channels and must address the challenges of integrating newcomers into mainstream society. Integration issues include addressing the basic settlement needs of newcomers and ensuring their full participation in the receiving society. Immigration also transforms the receiving society by increasing diversity in terms of culture, language and religion. Consequently, integration entails a balance between respecting the cultural heritages of all individuals on the one hand and fostering social cohesion on the other.
Click here for programme details and to download presentations
COMPAS Annual Conference 2007
Between 'Parallel Lives' and 'Community Cohesion'
Toward new models of immigration, integration and multiculturalism
5-6 July 2007, St Anne's College, University of Oxford
Click here for programme details and to download presentations and conference reports.
Special seminar-"A Clash of Cultures? What underlies the division between migration studies and race and ethnicity studies?"
Liza Schuster, Department of Sociology, City University, London spoke on 19 April 2007, 2-3.30pm at the Pauling Centre, 58a Banbury Road, Oxford
SEESOX/COMPAS Seminar
"Migration to the EU: Challenges, Rights and Opportunities"
A GLOMIG project (EU 6th Global Migration Network), located at METU University, Ankara Turkey. Co-organisers: Dr Othon Anastasakis (SEESOX) and Dr Ellie Vasta (COMPAS)
22nd February 2007, 17:00-19:00, European Studies Centre, University of Oxford (Open seminar) "Migration and the dual crisis of national identity and the welfare state: a European dilemma"
WELCOME: Professor Steven Vertovec, COMPAS, and Dr Kalypso Nicolaidis, SEESOX
PANEL: Professor Carl-Ulrik Schierup and Professor Stephen Castles
DISCUSSANT: Professor Linda McDowell
CHAIR: Dr Othon Anastasakis
European societies are experiencing a dual crisis of national identity and of the welfare state. Both are closely connected with globalisation: increased migration and ethnic diversity are a result of growing cross-border flows of all kinds which are an integral part of global integration; national welfare states are being undermined by the mobility of capital and its ability to move rapidly to countries with low wages and little social protection. This seminar links two discourses that are normally separate: immigration and ethnic relations research on the one hand, and the political economy of the welfare state on the other. It will highlight the major moral-political dilemma emerging across the EU out of the discord between declared ideals of citizenship and actual exclusion of minorities from civil, political, and social rights. Drawing on case-study analysis of migration, the changing welfare state, and labour markets in the UK , Germany , Italy , and Sweden , the seminar will chart the variety of Europe 's social and political landscape. Trends of divergence and convergence between single countries are related to the European Union's emerging policies for diversity and social inclusion.
23rd February 2007, 09:00 - 17:00 (By invitation) WORKSHOP SESSIONS - designed around two specially commissioned papers.
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Previous events (2008/9)
Events held in 2006
Events held in 2005
Events held in 2004