Multiculturalism is a notion that describes a society in which a variety of ethnic and religious origins live harmoniously side by side. A multicultural society accepts differences and allows people to maintain their cultural heritage. No one is expected to assimilate into the main population. Everyone’s specificities are valued and celebrated. In public life, official documents need to be translated into several languages and everyone is entitled to display religious symbols.
The initial intention of multiculturalism was to show respect to immigrants from the former colonies in the 1950s and 60s. If the policy grew increasingly popular over the course of Blair’s mandates, it later declined when David Cameron became Prime Minister. In 2005, in the wake of the shock caused by the July 7th terrorist attack, doubt arose in the public opinion over the benefits of multicultural policies. They became suspected of fragmenting parts of the society, leading to ghettos and radicalization. Cameron later reacted to the growing defiance on multiculturalism declaring “We believe in respecting different faiths, but also expecting those faiths to support a British way of life.”
It was decided in 1991 that the national census start collecting data – on a voluntary basis from the respondents – about ethnic groups and skin colour. The information is supposed to enable better public services. According to the 2011 Census, 14% of the population was non-white, compared with 8.7% in 2001. 48.2 million people, or 86% of the population, define themselves as ‘white’ in England and Wales, compared to 91.3% in 2001 and 94.1% in 1991. 7.5% of the population self-defines as Asian or Asian British, 3.3% as Black, African, Caribbean, Black British, and 2.2% as “mixed or multiple ethnic group”.
Minority groups most often live in England, rather than in Wales or Scotland. Most live in urban areas, predominantly in the South-East of England, with more than 50% black citizens and 40% of Indian-origin people living in London.
