Multiculturalism in the United Kingdom: Past, Present, and Future Directions.

Katharina Lefringhausen, Nicolas Geeraert

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

As a union of four nations, the United Kingdom (UK) is by definition a demographical multicultural society, while its turbulent past, up to its most recent exit from the European Union (EU), has shaped the country’s present demographical, political, and attitudinal make-up regarding cultural diversity. Thus, this chapter aims to provide a holistic overview of the UK’s multiculturalism. We will first outline UK’s historic background regarding multiculturalism, stressing its role as an emigration country during the era of the British Empire to an immigration country following the Second World War and its EU membership. This then allows us to explain the current demographic, political, and attitudinal or psychological perspectives on multiculturalism in the UK and across its nations, stressing the ongoing mismatch in somewhat rejecting immigration yet simultaneously supporting the UK’s existing multicultural society. In the final section, we discuss the latest psychological research regarding minority (e.g., immigrants) and majority-group members’ (e.g., white English nationals) mutual acculturation in the UK—that is, their level of change regarding their cultural identity, behaviours, and/or values due to living in a shared society. In sum, this chapter aims to support future psychological research on multiculturalism by providing an overview of this particular sociocultural context.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Diversity Competence
PublisherSpringer
Chapter6
ISBN (Print)9783031693076
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jan 2025

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