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What should be done to foster multi-ethnic societies? Policy recommendations from FutureLab Europe
Ignacio Urquijo
26 October 2015
FutureLab Europe, a project run by the European Alliance for Democratic Citizenship, is trying to take action for a democratic and sustainable Europe, mainly by engaging young participants in developing their skills as responsible European citizens.
With this purpose, FutureLab has circulated a survey asking young Europeans what should be done to foster multi-ethnic societies. The results of the survey were discussed by the participants of the 2015 FutureLab Europe Annual Forum and these are the main conclusions:
Should barriers preventing migrants from being employed in the civil service (or part thereof) be removed?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 70 %
No: 30 %
Forum discussion:
The inclusion of migrants in the civil service could bring “innovative ideas and practices, including alternative approach to inclusion and development policies”. Moreover, allowing migrants to work in civil services could increase “cooperation and trust” among different segments of the society.
Should there be special initiatives for informing migrants/foreign workers about the labour law and standard working conditions of the hosting country?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 97 %
No: 3 %
Forum discussion:
The special initiatives would “expand migrants’ access to the labour market and promote equal opportunities”. Particularly, informing foreign workers about their rights is “fundamental to give them tools to avoid abuse and mistreatment in the workplace”.
Should there be positive discrimination (for example through quotas or targeted financial aid) in the education system in order to give easier access to good schools and universities to migrant children?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 56 %
No: 44 %
Forum discussion:
Introducing quotas would offer “a quick solution to promote migrants’ inclusion in society and help creating a more diverse elite”. However, this solution does not tackle “the root causes of migrants’ insufficient participation in education” and could increase “resentment towards migrants among the local population”.
Should cities actively promote multi-ethnic neighbourhoods?
Result of the survey:
Yes. 87 %
No: 13 %
Forum discussion:
Multi-ethnic neighbourhoods could foster integration, “uniting different communities through proximity and increasing the understanding among people with different cultural backgrounds”, but this measure should be complemented with the promotion of dialogue among different communities.
Should people be free to wear religious symbols/clothes in public?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 80 %
No: 20 %
Forum discussion:
Allowing religious symbols could “foster acceptance of diversity, promoting the social inclusion of every member of society”, being aware that there is “a possible ‘strumentalisation’ of religious symbols by radical groups”.
Should civil society be actively involved in learning about migrant’s culture (for example via intercultural awareness programmes)?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 94 %
No: 6 %
Forum discussion:
This measure is recognized as a “prerequisite for inclusion, which would increase understanding and decrease polarization due to the so-called fear of the unknown.”
Should migrants be given the right to vote in national and/or local elections?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 67 %
No: 33 %
Forum discussion:
The general right to vote would promote integration and “increase the responsiveness of the political system to the instances of all residents”. This would also “rebalance the electorate, in many cases dominated by the elderly and public sector employees”. On the other hand, it was recognized that allowing non-nationals to vote could maximise “the risk of foreign influence” as well as the “the emergence of ethnic parties”, which can possibly increase segregation.
Should be mandatory legal quotas for minorities and migrants in parliaments and/or public administration?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 39 %
No: 61 %
Forum discussion:
Introducing quotas for migrants in the political system could increase “resentment in the local population”. On the other hand, quotas could bring “protection of minorities, the promotion of migrants’ inclusion in the political system” and “the stimulation of their political participation”.
Source: http://www.futurelabeurope.eu/read/items/what-should-be-done-to-foster-multi-ethnic-societies-policy-recommendations-from-futurelab-europe.html
With this purpose, FutureLab has circulated a survey asking young Europeans what should be done to foster multi-ethnic societies. The results of the survey were discussed by the participants of the 2015 FutureLab Europe Annual Forum and these are the main conclusions:
Should barriers preventing migrants from being employed in the civil service (or part thereof) be removed?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 70 %
No: 30 %
Forum discussion:
The inclusion of migrants in the civil service could bring “innovative ideas and practices, including alternative approach to inclusion and development policies”. Moreover, allowing migrants to work in civil services could increase “cooperation and trust” among different segments of the society.
Should there be special initiatives for informing migrants/foreign workers about the labour law and standard working conditions of the hosting country?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 97 %
No: 3 %
Forum discussion:
The special initiatives would “expand migrants’ access to the labour market and promote equal opportunities”. Particularly, informing foreign workers about their rights is “fundamental to give them tools to avoid abuse and mistreatment in the workplace”.
Should there be positive discrimination (for example through quotas or targeted financial aid) in the education system in order to give easier access to good schools and universities to migrant children?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 56 %
No: 44 %
Forum discussion:
Introducing quotas would offer “a quick solution to promote migrants’ inclusion in society and help creating a more diverse elite”. However, this solution does not tackle “the root causes of migrants’ insufficient participation in education” and could increase “resentment towards migrants among the local population”.
Should cities actively promote multi-ethnic neighbourhoods?
Result of the survey:
Yes. 87 %
No: 13 %
Forum discussion:
Multi-ethnic neighbourhoods could foster integration, “uniting different communities through proximity and increasing the understanding among people with different cultural backgrounds”, but this measure should be complemented with the promotion of dialogue among different communities.
Should people be free to wear religious symbols/clothes in public?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 80 %
No: 20 %
Forum discussion:
Allowing religious symbols could “foster acceptance of diversity, promoting the social inclusion of every member of society”, being aware that there is “a possible ‘strumentalisation’ of religious symbols by radical groups”.
Should civil society be actively involved in learning about migrant’s culture (for example via intercultural awareness programmes)?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 94 %
No: 6 %
Forum discussion:
This measure is recognized as a “prerequisite for inclusion, which would increase understanding and decrease polarization due to the so-called fear of the unknown.”
Should migrants be given the right to vote in national and/or local elections?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 67 %
No: 33 %
Forum discussion:
The general right to vote would promote integration and “increase the responsiveness of the political system to the instances of all residents”. This would also “rebalance the electorate, in many cases dominated by the elderly and public sector employees”. On the other hand, it was recognized that allowing non-nationals to vote could maximise “the risk of foreign influence” as well as the “the emergence of ethnic parties”, which can possibly increase segregation.
Should be mandatory legal quotas for minorities and migrants in parliaments and/or public administration?
Result of the survey:
Yes: 39 %
No: 61 %
Forum discussion:
Introducing quotas for migrants in the political system could increase “resentment in the local population”. On the other hand, quotas could bring “protection of minorities, the promotion of migrants’ inclusion in the political system” and “the stimulation of their political participation”.
Source: http://www.futurelabeurope.eu/read/items/what-should-be-done-to-foster-multi-ethnic-societies-policy-recommendations-from-futurelab-europe.html
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