4. Multicultural British Identity and Integration

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we think about multicultural notions of British identity and the ways in which minority groups have their Britishness challenged by wider society, focusing in particular on: (i) issues around racism and the denial of minority groups’ Britishness; (ii) minority groups’ cultural and religious practices, such as particular forms of dress, which can be the basis for wider society to challenge their British identity; (iii) the multiculturalist project of reconstructing British identity away from culturally exclusive ideas of Britishness and supporting minorities’ struggle for recognition.

Course

In this course, Professor Tariq Modood (University of Bristol) explores sociological approaches to multiculturalism and integration. In the first lecture, we think about traditional understandings of integration as being grounded in cultural, religious or national sameness. In the second lecture, we look at how the emergence of multicultural societies, such as modern Britain, challenge these older notions, and consider the nature of cultural difference. Next, we look at ideas of Britishness and the ways these have changed over time. In the fourth and final lecture, we consider how we can construct notions of British national identity which can accommodate cultural diversity.

Lecturer

Tariq Modood is Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy at the University of Bristol. Over the last twenty-five years, he has worked on the theory and politics of racism, racial equality, and multiculturalism and secularism, with special reference to British Asian Muslims. Some of his more recent publications include Multiculturalism: A Civic Idea (2007) and (co-authored with G. Levey) Secularism, Religion and Multicultural Citizenship.