Where next for ethnic diversity policy-making in the context of the ‘Big Society’? Reflections from a cross-national comparative study of Manchester and Copenhagen
Posted by CLPS - 05/07/11 at 12:07 pmWhere next for ethnic diversity policy-making in the context of the ‘Big Society’? Reflections from a cross-national comparative study of Manchester and Copenhagen
Jessica Smith, Policy Researcher, Centre for Local Economic Strategies
Abstract
In the months since the election of the Conservative-Liberal coalition government, little has been said about what the change in government will mean for the field of ethnic diversity policy-making. However, all signs suggest that the ‘Community Cohesion’ agenda, built up over ten years by the Labour government, will be dropped. Indeed, amongst the government’s £1.66 billion cuts to local government grants, Community Cohesion monies will see a reduction of £4 million. At the same time, ‘Big Society’ has come to the fore as the defining feature of the coalition government’s policy rhetoric, signalling a ‘hands-off’ approach to ethnic diversity policy in stark contrast to the preceding social cohesion and multiculturalist models. With this context in mind, this paper poses the question: Where next for ethnic diversity policy-making?
This paper draws on findings from a cross-national comparison of two local authorities’ approaches to ethnic diversity policy-making: Manchester and Copenhagen. The research was conducted for the applicant’s dissertation project for a Masters degree in Human Geography Research at the University of Sheffield in summer 2010 and was awarded a Distinction. In January 2011, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, where the applicant works as a researcher, will publish a shortened, policy-focused version of the findings.
The research involved 32 semi-structured interviews with policy officers and policy-makers from the two local authorities as well as external representatives from non-governmental organisations, the voluntary and community sector and a Danish government ministry. Drawing on these findings, this paper reflects on existing approaches to responding to increased ethnic diversity and considers what impact the shift towards ‘Big Society’ (in the UK) and ‘active citizenship’ (in Denmark) might mean for: regeneration; tackling inequality; and the promotion of good community relations in a context of cuts.
