Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion

By: Paul Thomas

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Synopsis: Since the 2001 'race riots' in the north of England, and the 7/7 London bombings, Britain has appeared to reject multiculturalism. It has instead prioritized a new policy of 'Community Cohesion' that calls for a focus on common needs and shared British identity, rather than on ethnic and religious differences. This has proved a controversial agenda, apparently downplaying the reality of racism and ethnic diversity, and leading to one critic calling it 'the death of multiculturalism'. Little evidence has emerged so far on what Community Cohesion actually represents, but this book addresses that deficit by drawing on empirical research around work with young people to analyse the meaning and practice of British Community Cohesion policies, youth identities in racially-tense areas, and government's attempts to 'prevent violent extremism' amongst young Muslims. It concludes that Community Cohesion is a new phase of multiculturalism, not its death.