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Migration, Equalities and Citizenship

Research Projects

Integration and Diversity in the UK

Contact Email: info@ippr.org

Introduction

Immigrants are coming from a wider range of countries, for a wider range of reasons (work, family, study and asylum) and are staying for more varied amounts of time than before. This ippr research stream aims to provide a comprehensive picture of new immigrants – their location in the UK, their countries of origin, their routes of entry, their feelings of belonging and Britishness, and their socio-economic performance – with a view to identifying policy priorities based on sound evidence.

Much of our work and research in this area builds on our report Beyond Black and White: Mapping new immigrant communities which used Census and Labour Force Survey data to provide detailed analysis of Britain’s new immigrant communities – defined as those who have arrived since 1990 – from over 50 countries and regions. Beyond Black and White presents a comprehensive picture of where immigrants live and work, and profiles their education, earnings, age and gender.

Data and analysis from the report forms part of a special set of web pages at BBC Online, where there is also a short comment piece reflecting on the report's implications. Additionally, our work in this area is reinforced by a special report we produced for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, on the funding of ethnic minority achievement in education.

In 2006, we undertook work for the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) on new migrants and conflict resolution, exploring what measures are successful for promoting conflict resolution in communities where migrants have recently arrived. The report for this project is called The Reception and Integration of New Migrant Communities.

In 2007, ippr conducted new research on notions of home, belonging and 'Britishness' among refugees. While there has been growing interest in notions of ‘Britishness’ among political leaders, academics and the media, relatively little attention has been paid to how refugees feel about becoming or being British. There is also little research about the role that public services, such as housing and English language classes, play in helping refugees settle and integrate in the UK. A key component of the project included 30 life-history interviews with refugees who have come to the UK during the last 50 years. A report From Refugee to Citizen:Standing on My Own Two Feet.  has since been published and was funded by the Refugee Support as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

Current Research

A UK Museum of Migration

Migration is central to the history of Britain as it is to the histories of countries such as Australia and the United States. Yet, while those countries have well-developed museums that reflect and respond to the phenomenon, the coverage of migration within UK museums has often been partial, temporary or small scale. More should and could be done to capture and recognise the complexity of migration patterns including permanent and temporary settlers as well as British emigration.

ippr's Migration, Equalities and Citizenship team seek to study the ways in which migration can be better represented in UK museums, galleries and heritage sector. Starting in 2008, the project will be conducted over 18 months and will involve extensive consultation and background research.


Joseph Rowntree Foundation Rountable Series on Immigration, Integration and Social Cohesion

The Migration, Equalities and Citizenship team is organising a policy-focussed rountable series in 2008 on the theme of immigration, integration and social cohesion. The rountable series will be an opportunity to showcase the findings of a number of important research projects in this area. The rountables, each of which will focus on an important aspect of immigration, integration and social cohesion in contemporary Britain, will also provide an opportunity to discuss the policy implications of recent research in a forum that brings together key researchers, policymakers, community representatives, and other civil society actors. Each roundtable will be informed by a briefing paper that will highlight policy recommendations arising out of recent research and pose questions for discussion.

Moving up together

The team is embarking on further research exploring the nature and policy implications of Britain’s changing diversity. This project is called Moving up together: promoting equality and integration for the UK's diverse communities, and will address the pressing question of why some migrant and minority communities are lagging behind in socio-economic terms. By identifying the aspirations of four communities (Bangladeshi, Iranian, Nigerian and Somali) and the factors that shape their outcomes, this research will seek to answer:

  • Why and to what extent do some communities (or sections within them) experience barriers to greater equality and integration?
  • What policy interventions will best promote equality and inclusion and meet the aspirations of these communities?

For further information, please see the project outline or contact info@ippr.org.

Further Information

Outputs from this work stream include:

Files

Moving Up Together project outline

Links

www.bbc.co.uk/bornabroad

Publications

Moving Up Together Promoting equality and integration among the UK’s diverse communitiesMoving Up Together
Promoting equality and integration among the UK’s diverse communities

Moving Up Together addresses the question of why some migrant and minority communities in the UK are falling behind. It also assesses which policy interventions will promote greater equality and integration. Focusing on four case study communities, of people born in Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria and Somalia, we examine their labour market participation, qualifications and progress towards equality, their own perceptions of their ‘integration’, and how their fortunes might change over generations.

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The Reception and Integration of New Migrant CommunitiesThe Reception and Integration of New Migrant Communities

This research looks at the reception and integration of new migrant communities across ten locations in the UK.

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Destination North East: Harnessing the regional potential of migrationDestination North East:
Harnessing the regional potential of migration

This report examines the experience of migration in the North East of England and how policy interventions might help the region better harness its potential to facilitate economic growth. It incorporates fresh data on the scale of migration and observations on its impacts in the region.

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Beyond Black and White Mapping new immigrant communitiesBeyond Black and White
Mapping new immigrant communities

This report provides a much-needed and comprehensive evidence base for understanding the dispersal and key characteristics of immigrant communities in the UK since 1990.

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