Local and National Management of Diversity

This lesson examines how diversity is managed at local and national level in the UK, including policies, strategies and debates about integration, multiculturalism and community cohesion. It addresses the Edexcel A-Level Geography Paper 2 (9GE0) Enquiry Question: "How successfully are cultural and demographic issues managed?"

Managing diversity is one of the great challenges of modern governance. How can a society ensure that people from different ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds can live together peacefully, productively and fairly? This lesson examines the different approaches the UK has taken and evaluates their success.

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The Multiculturalism vs Assimilation Debate

The most fundamental debate in diversity management is between two competing philosophies:

Approach	Definition	Key Features	Critique
Multiculturalism	Recognition and celebration of cultural difference within a shared political framework	Supports community languages, cultural practices, faith schools; values diversity as inherent good	Accused of encouraging "parallel lives"; may not promote shared values; can lead to relativism
Assimilation	Expectation that minorities adopt the culture, language and values of the host society	Emphasises shared national identity, common language, integration into mainstream institutions	Accused of cultural imperialism; ignores structural racism; places burden on minorities
Integration	A middle path: shared civic values alongside respect for cultural diversity	Mutual adaptation — both majority and minorities change; emphasis on participation and interaction	Often vague in practice; difficult to define or measure; can mean different things to different people

graph LR
    A["Assimilation<br/>(Minorities adopt<br/>majority culture)"] --- B["Integration<br/>(Mutual adaptation;<br/>shared values +<br/>cultural diversity)"] --- C["Multiculturalism<br/>(Cultural difference<br/>celebrated and<br/>maintained)"]
    B --> D["UK policy has moved<br/>along this spectrum<br/>over time"]

The Evolution of UK Policy

Period	Approach	Key Features
1960s–1970s	Assimilationist	Expectation that immigrants would adopt British culture and become invisible. Little support for cultural maintenance
1980s–1990s	Multicultural	Recognition of cultural diversity; funding for community organisations; anti-discrimination legislation; celebration of difference
2001–2010	Community cohesion	Shift after 2001 riots; emphasis on shared values, interaction, and common belonging alongside respect for diversity
2010–2016	Muscular liberalism	David Cameron declared multiculturalism had "failed" (Munich speech, 2011); emphasis on British values; Prevent strategy targeting extremism
2016–present	Integration + hostile environment	Post-Brexit emphasis on controlling immigration; "hostile environment" policy for illegal immigrants; integration strategy (2018); debate continues

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National Policies and Legislation

Equality Legislation

The Equality Act 2010 is the cornerstone of UK anti-discrimination law:

• Protects nine "protected characteristics": age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, sexual orientation
• Prohibits direct discrimination (treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic)
• Prohibits indirect discrimination (policies that are neutral in form but disproportionately disadvantage a protected group)
• Requires public bodies to have due regard for equality in decision-making (the Public Sector Equality Duty)
• Established the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) as the enforcement body

The Prevent Strategy

Prevent is the UK government's counter-radicalisation strategy, part of the broader CONTEST counter-terrorism framework:

• Aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism
• Places a legal duty on schools, universities, healthcare providers, prisons and local authorities to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism"
• Has been intensely controversial, particularly within Muslim communities:
  • Supporters argue it has disrupted terrorist plots and redirected vulnerable people
  • Critics argue it unfairly targets Muslim communities, creates a surveillance culture, and chills free expression
  • The Independent Review of Prevent (Shawcross Report, 2023) recommended refocusing on Islamist extremism; critics argued this would increase community alienation

Integration Strategy (2018)

The government's Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper (2018) outlined five priorities:

1. Boosting English language skills among isolated communities
2. Supporting newly arrived communities to integrate
3. Education: promoting mixing between students from different backgrounds
4. Strengthening leadership: supporting community leaders who promote integration
5. Economic opportunity: ensuring equal access to employment

The strategy was welcomed in principle but criticised for:

• Limited funding
• Placing the burden of integration on minority communities rather than addressing structural racism
• Ignoring the role of poverty and housing policy in creating segregation

Exam Tip: When discussing national policy, always evaluate its effectiveness and fairness. Who does the policy benefit? Who does it disadvantage? Is it based on evidence? Has it achieved its aims? This evaluative approach is essential for higher-level marks.

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Local Authority Strategies

Local authorities play a crucial role in managing diversity on the ground:

Community Cohesion Strategies

Following the 2001 Cantle Report, local authorities in diverse areas developed community cohesion strategies aimed at:

• Increasing contact between different ethnic and religious groups
• Creating shared spaces and activities
• Building trust and understanding
• Addressing the root causes of tension (poverty, segregation, inequality)

Case Study: Bradford

Bradford is one of the most significant case studies for diversity management in the UK:

Context:

• Population approximately 546,000; 20.4% Pakistani, 53.6% White British (2021)
• Significant residential segregation: Asian communities concentrated in inner wards (Manningham, Girlington); white communities in outer estates
• History of tension: 2001 riots; Haworth Road disturbances; periodic community friction
• High deprivation: 4th most deprived local authority in England

Management strategies: