Multiculturalism essential to migration challenges

February 9th, 2012

Professor Tariq Modood, the author of a new report launched by the British Academy today (9 Feb 2012), will suggest that models of integration need to be tailored to different migrant groups at the first of the Dialogue Society’s HardTALK series.

At the event, entitled ‘Multiculturalism: has it a future?’, Professor Modood from the University of Bristol will argue that the challenge of integrating the growing Muslim population of Western Europe, has to include multiculturalism alongside other modes of integration.  He will be interviewed by David Goodhart, Founder of Prospect Magazine and Director of think tank Demos, at the Dialogue Society’s headquarters in London.

Professor Modood, who is Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy at the University of Bristol, says: “Minority groups and individuals vary. For many an individual-based approach to integration or a mixing of identities will be attractive, but more community-oriented groups such as Muslims will in addition require a more group-based multiculturalist approach.”

Professor Modood’s report, ‘Post-immigration ‘difference’ and integration: The case of Muslims in Western Europe’, will be available at the event or can be downloaded from the British Academy website.

Ozcan Keles, Executive Director at the Dialogue Society, added: “We are delighted to be launching the Dialogue Society HardTALK series with such valued speakers especially on such an important and topical issue as multiculturalism. We’re privileged to be working with The British Academy on the launch of Professor Tariq Modood’s publication and recommend it to all those researching and working in this area.”

Provided by University of Bristol