ESRC Seminar series
The objective of this seminar series is to provide a supportive yet challenging forum to discuss and debate key aspects of community cohesion such as the role of faith, the rise of the far right and an international perspective on the topic. We need to move away from discussions that have tended to close down debates and consider innovative ways to develop this critical concept.
The specific aims of the seminar series are to:
- Act as a catalyst to bring together academics, researchers, national and local policy organisations, community organisations and activists to understand community cohesion
- Enable policy and community practitioners to engage effectively with academic research on community cohesion
- Provide a critical and constructive appraisal of current policy drivers on cohesion and integration
If possible, please attend all four seminars; alternatively feel free to attend one or more of your choice.
Seminars include:
Does faith have a role in community cohesion?
Thursday 11 March 2010, London
Co-organised by iCoCo and faiths and the Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths
It has been argued that faith is a key component in building community cohesion. Others would like to see a secular society, and squeezing out of faith issues because they are viewed as potentially divisive. Yet to some groups faith provides a basis to maintain identity and culture and is an important component of social capital. Moreover it could be argued that faith has been used as an effective vehicle for conflict resolution and peace building. This is a highly complex and interesting topic which will be critically examined by opinion formers from academic and policy backgrounds. Speakers include Doreen Finneron (Faith Based Regeneration Framework), Dr Adam Dinham (Goldsmiths and author of Faiths, Public Policy and Civil Society: Problems, Policies, Controversies) and Richard Slade (Institute of Community Cohesion).
Three models of community cohesion?
Thursday 18 March 2010, Coventry
Many countries are trying to manage complex issues on community cohesion, diversity and integration. Indeed a globalised and smaller world means that these issues cannot be resolved by nation states. There has to be greater comparative learning of different systems and models. The seminar will provide an opportunity to compare progress on community cohesion and integration in US, UK and Germany. In particular we will compare policy interventions, regulatory drivers and engagement with different types of communities. What are the lessons to be learnt if any? To what extent are the problems (segregation, neighbourhood decline and community fragmentation) similar between the three countries? Speakers include Dr. Susan Popkin (Urban Institute, Washington DC), Dr Eva Dick and Dr Katrin Gliemann (Technical University Dortmund) and Nick Johnson (Institute of Community Cohesion).
Community cohesion and the politics of the far right
Thursday 25 March 2010, Manchester
Co-organised by iCoCo and IPEG, University of Manchester
One of the most striking developments in recent years has been the electoral growth of the organized far right, as represented by the British National Party (BNP). The far right is also a growing presence in political and media debates. This underscores the need for research on what drives support for parties such as the BNP. This expert seminar will focus on the factors that motivate some citizens to cast a vote for and join organizations such as the BNP, as well as how community cohesion can address the challenge of far right extremism. Bringing together leading experts on the topic, we will review a number of themes including the emergence of community cohesion as a response to the 2001 disturbances, the emphasis on identity and citizenship, the modernisation and electoral emergence of the BNP and how community organisations could respond to the new policy context of Far Right extremism and cohesion. Speakers include Prof. Roger Eatwell and Dr. Matthew Goodwin (co-editors of The New Extremism in 21st Century Britain), Dr. Robert Ford (University of Manchester), Dr. David Cutts (University of Manchester) and Gareth Harris (Birkbeck, University of London).
