The Impact of Migration and Diaspora in Shaping Everyday Life Relations - Term Paper Example

CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION AND DIASPORA IN SHAPING EVERYDAY LIFE RELATIONS IN MULTICULTURAL URBAN LOCALES Course name: Tutor name: Date due: Introduction The word diaspora is utilized to signify national or religious groups that live away from the country of birth (BauböCk & Faist 2010:9). The concept of diaspora referred to a religious minority in Europe, Jews and Armenians in history (Brubaker 2005:1-19). The definition of diaspora can take three forms that are determined by characteristics. The first definition is in regard to the trigger of dispersal or migration. This includes dispersal through labour migrations, trade Diasporas or forced dispersal. The second characteristic is in reference to cross-border encounters of homeland destination. The third feature deal with the integration of minorities and migrants into the countries of destination (BauböCk & Faist 2010:13).Migration is the movement of people from one place to another for various reasons. In olden days, people moved in search of water and food (Ho & Loucky 2010:1). In modern world, people migrate because of conflict, destitution, war, natural disasters and shortages. On the other hand, people move to where the opportunities seem to be better. From this perspective, migration is viewed as a symbol of pursuit of happiness, new life and liberty (Ho & Loucky 2010:2). In the last fifty years, people have migrated from the rural to urban areas from all over the world (Manning 2013:1). People’s lives have changed from rural to urban lifestyle. According to Brauns (2007), multiculturalism refers to different types of groups with different cultures and source of authority that co-exist together (p.5). Therefore, a multicultural society is one that constitutes many ethno-national cultures. This paper will discuss the impact of migration and diaspora in shaping everyday life relations in multicultural urban locales. The impact of migration in multicultural urban locales The modern immigrants cling to their indigenous culture that develop to modern diasporas unlike the ‘classical immigrant society’ that moved their orientation from their homeland to their destination. It is assumed that a person become a part if her or his cultural group through socialization. The procedure enables values to be communicated and development of a feeling of belonging and security (Cohen 2008:2). The root of ethnicity is the confrontation of immigrants on the basis of their ethnic group. This results to institutionalization of the immigrant cultures and the only way the valued features of home culture could be preserved is through common activities, clubs, mosques or churches and newspapers (Kennedy & Roudometof 2003:56). In contemporary society, the immigrant people are placed at the bottom of the social ladder. The boundaries are described by such issues as religion, language, and citizenship. In this case the immigrants usher institutions from their homeland to safeguard the values features of their culture. Therefore, the immigrants become absorbed by the host society. On the other hand, some people confine themselves to a restricted social role, and they are placed at the margins of the community (Kennedy & Roudometof 2003: 57). It is assumed that the immigrants become fully absorbed after three generations. These people do not completely forget about their culture, but they maintain vague bonds with their ‘homeland’. Their ethnic identity that determined the immigrant’s place of residence, marriage partner choice, standard of education and occupation is not influenced by their ethnic belonging. Some immigrants uphold their cultural identity, and the group members are rooted in their cultural beliefs in regard to the essential scope of conduct. Though the group of immigrants is not restricted to a particular social status, class and they do not engage in a particular recess. This kind of immigrants is in a position to preserve its border because of the function of their religious bodies in creating a group identity. This group of immigrants encounters intermarriages because of their adherence to religious organisations. The third result of migration is that the group stays socially and culturally excluded, and their social engagement is limited. This kind of group forms the ethnic minority in a society. The impact of diaspora in multicultural urban locales The traditional diaspora relies on the pre-modern kind of political command. An example is in feudal countries where an outward ‘oriented’, mobile ‘minority’ were allowed to carry out tasks in finance and trade that were prohibited to the ‘real people’. The diaspora immigrants were socially and residentially isolated to particular professions and occupations. In regard to marriage and trade associations they are oriented to their comrade’s ethnicity. Their legal position persists to be sensitive despite their success in the financial word as artisans, traders, scholars, and craftsmen. The diaspora culture does not aim in integrating others or being integrated by others. This kind of characteristics remains to be a challenge in modern society. This implies that the modern diaspora community does not exhibit the social and economic characteristics of the traditional Diasporas (Kennedy & Roudometof 2003:58). The migrants in the diaspora especially the young people define group identities to be associated with ethnic group. Urban regime theory The urban regime theory focuses on the resources and social networks of the minority groups. According to the theory, the local leaders are not likely to increase the resources to satisfy the multiculturalism objectives. Such a case is where the immigrants control the resources and the population to be in a position to influence the identity of the local society in a big way. Thus, there is a possibility of an adverse response (Castles 2003: 13-34). The theory assists in elaborating the distinction between heterogeneous locales. In some locales, the public-public partnerships do not succeed to grow around multiculturalism aims because of various inter-related aspects. In some municipalities, immigrant incorporation and intercultural associations seem to be not important compared to divided municipalities. In multicultural locales, it is difficult to overcome the ‘collective action problem’. As stated by the theory, it is possible to construct multiculturalism-friendly administrative frameworks with time in locales with high diversity where the political leaders are in a position to organize the essential resources around a specific purpose. The theory highlights that it is crucial for the local state to give leadership in locales with high diversity. Moreover, the policy making procedure in multiculturalism policy and municipal politics are formed by the ethnic composition of the municipal communities and the design of the municipal resources. These are the bases the political leaders employ to determine whether to create governance plans to control ethno-cultural change and integrate the racial minorities and immigrants equally in urban politics (Davies 2013:47). The impact of migration and Diaspora in multicultural urban locales in the UK In the UK at the finale of the twentieth century, the concentration of migrants in urban locales had increased. This necessitated the labour government to initiate policies to scatter ‘asylum seekers’ to towns and locations that did not have many migrants. The aim of this process was to prevent migrant settlements. The migrant networks enabled the new arrivals to follow their settled relatives or friends. These types of movements lead to the creation of ethnic communities in the UK. The other factor that promoted the formation of ethnic groups was the housing initiatives. This is because people from a particular ethnic community were allocated to the same locale. Another aspect that result in ethnic community is the inability to obtain a decent housing that push migrants into a specific poor location. The economic factor also determines the settlement of foreigners because most of them reside in locations close to their place of work (Brown 2013:94). The migrants in the UK face hostility because of their refusal to mix which causes ethnic conflicts in modern cities. The minority groups are viewed as the silent players in the procedure of gentrification. The housing markets associated with the migrants were considered low quality and price. In recent times, the housing market has experienced fast rise in price because of demand exceeding supply. A perfect example is in the UK, Brixton, which was dominated by the Caribbean settlement, has experienced great sales in the last two decades. The rising cost of property gives an opportunity for a social movement for people ready to benefit. The new housing markets in the locales in Birmingham have been developed for professionals in middle and high income. This was a local authority’s objective to bring back to life the destroyed neighbourhoods to create renewed energy and life to the locales. This has resulted to increased utilization of goods and services because people are getting employment and can reach for the amenities. The renewal of the housing market has attracted the minority ethnic people and blacks (Beider 2007:325). This is proven by the new housing markets that are drawn from minority groups that constitute fifteen percent. In this case the multiculturalism is employed as a marketing tool and has promoted the selling of ‘new urban’ living. The housing market in the UK has brought in investment that has resulted in high tax revenues, property prices and has revitalized the culture of urban living. The new design of Birmingham may lead to new ways of segregation by ethnicity and income among the mobile young groups from minority groups and whites. The impact of Diaspora in multicultural urban locales in the UK In the UK, club culture is developed to bring change in the society. The clubs are open for members from different cultural backgrounds. The clubs are viewed as a leisure activity where many young people in UK participate in. The clubs attract economic investment, tourism, and highly skilled labour force. In the modern urban cultural policy making in UK cities, the authorities promote and highlight cultural infrastructures and events. Multiculturalism in modern cities in UK is reducing as a result of political paradigm. In addition, multiculturalism is based on the comprehension of state society and government that has in UK been succeeded by neo-liberal, adaptable kinds of governance that outlines the state as a facilitator instead of a provider of services. This change influence cultural policy making. The September 11 disaster necessitated states to be strict on immigrants and especially the Islamist terrorists that are in accordance to ‘hard-line’ integration policy (Anheier & Isar 2012:57). The clubs are used to promote different ethnic activities such as music, ethnic cuisine and cultural growth. These activities attract audience from post-migrant and different immigrant. The ethnic clubbing events in UK metropolitan centres are new kinds of cultural productivity that does not depend on opportunities that are state sponsored or ethnic community organisations. These events are propelled by the market and compete with different commercial leisure providing the form of urban material. The cultural events involve youth cultural effect globally and also trans-national cultural integration between diasporic locations, former countries of origin and the European centres. Conclusion To conclude, the migration influences the urban society of the UK locales. Different ethnic groups occupied different locations in UK cities, and this determined the multiculturalism. With time, the migrants give up their culture and practice the host culture but remember their customs vaguely. The cultural clubs in modern urban society are seen as a way of retaining culture among the migrants. It also serves as a historic event for the young people born away from their homeland. The clubs also improve the socio-economic status of a locale since they serve as tourist attractive activity that generates money to the local authorities and the population as well. 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