Integration and Belonging in the United Kingdom

In a diverse world, a society governed by good relations between its people is essential. “Good integration” happens every day in different areas around the country, either as a unified response to a tragic event, in the private sphere, or in the successful performance of some ethnic minorities in education and employment.

Yet, in some respects, communities are moving apart, pulled or sometimes pushed, by their own choices. As we struggle through an economic downturn, issues of integration and community cohesion are likely to become more pressing, not least because tensions in some areas may arise as perceptions of competition for resources and dwindling jobs intensify.

The key to a sound policy response is to accept that there is no magic recipe when it comes to integration and belonging.