Asylum-seeking migration, identity-building and social cohesion: policy-making vs. social action for cultural recognition

Abstract

This article considers two UK government policies, which are aimed at immigrants' assimilation around an ‘imagined’ Britishness and at managing multiculturalism and social cohesion. It specifically argues that the policies are an attempt by ‘new governmentality’ at identity-building of a homogeneous British cultural identity and the governance of multiculturalism in the contemporary western state. It considers asylum seekers/refugees' alternative forms of identity-building through proactive social actions to demonstrate that immigrants are capable of resisting governmentality's ‘assimilationist’ agenda. It is argued that asylum seekers/refugees' identity-building practices constitute a process of ‘disidentification’. Further, it demonstrates that racialised minorities are capable of managing public anxiety about asylum-seeking migration as posing a threat to social cohesion and multiculturalism.

Notes on contributor

Amadu Wurie Khan is currently undertaking dual research roles at the University of Edinburgh. He is Research Associate in the School of Architecture exploring new media technology, inclusion and community engagement. He is also researching the intersections of asylum-seeking migration, UK news media and citizenship. He is an international award-winning human rights journalist.

Notes

1. Fortier used the term ‘community’ cohesion rather than social cohesion. However, both terms have been used interchangeably in the academy and particularly in the UK Home Office policy documents.

2. All six were involved with Oxfam–Scotland's ‘Positive Images Network’ project that is aimed at improving Scottish press reporting of asylum seekers/refugees.