From Exclusion to From Exclusion to Inclusion: the Pakistani Inclusion: the Pakistani Community in NorwayCommunity in Norway

Political Demography: Ethnic, Political Demography: Ethnic, National and Religious DimensionsNational and Religious DimensionsSeptember September 29-30, 2006 at the London 29-30, 2006 at the London

School of EconomicsSchool of Economics

Anwar MuhammadAnwar MuhammadMaster of Philosophy (M.Phil) StudentMaster of Philosophy (M.Phil) Student

Gender and Development StudiesGender and Development Studies

University of Bergen, Bergen University of Bergen, Bergen NorwayNorway

Tel: 0047 – 41506238, 0047 5527 6504 Tel: 0047 – 41506238, 0047 5527 6504 e-mail: e-mail: man046@student.uib.noman046@student.uib.no, ,

mohanwar1@yahoo.commohanwar1@yahoo.com

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

Is rapidly growing population of Is rapidly growing population of second generation Pakistani’s in second generation Pakistani’s in Norway making any major progress Norway making any major progress in integration? in integration?

Are there any difference in Are there any difference in adjustment and integration into adjustment and integration into Norwegian society by Pakistani’s Norwegian society by Pakistani’s who migrated to Norway and the who migrated to Norway and the one’s who born in Norway?one’s who born in Norway?

Methodology at a Glance Methodology at a Glance QualitativeQualitative

Literature review, expert interviews, in-Literature review, expert interviews, in-depth interviews (20), FGDs (3), case depth interviews (20), FGDs (3), case studies & best practices. studies & best practices.

Geographical FocusGeographical Focus Oslo & Bergen (first & second biggest Oslo & Bergen (first & second biggest

city) city) Concerned PopulationConcerned Population

University of Oslo/Bergen, University University of Oslo/Bergen, University Collage Oslo/BergenCollage Oslo/Bergen

IntroductionIntroduction Norway's population – Norway's population –

4.6 million; 4.6 million; Immigrants 8 percent Immigrants 8 percent

of total population – of total population – from 200 countries;from 200 countries;

Pakistani’s biggest Pakistani’s biggest immigrant community; immigrant community; andand

Majority based in Oslo. Majority based in Oslo. The first Pakistani The first Pakistani

group of ten men group of ten men arrived in Oslo in 1967. arrived in Oslo in 1967.

Situation AnalysisSituation Analysis

Chain labour Migration to Norway Chain labour Migration to Norway 1960’s – 70’s; 1960’s – 70’s;

Social Interaction Process - financial; Social Interaction Process - financial; Class System in Community – rural Class System in Community – rural

urban;urban; Demographic Increase in Population; Demographic Increase in Population;

andand Continuation of Practices of Pakistani Continuation of Practices of Pakistani

Cultural Values in Norway – Cultural Values in Norway – Problematic domain Problematic domain

Theoretical ContextTheoretical Context

‘‘In-between-two Cultures’ – Problematic In-between-two Cultures’ – Problematic Aspect Aspect

‘‘Cultural Hybridity’ – Positive AspectCultural Hybridity’ – Positive Aspect According to Sernhede, Andersson (et. Al 2005) the According to Sernhede, Andersson (et. Al 2005) the

‘cultural hybridity’ approach tends to focus on the ‘cultural hybridity’ approach tends to focus on the positive and emancipatory aspects that exist in the positive and emancipatory aspects that exist in the migrants youth status, the other approach focuses migrants youth status, the other approach focuses on the negative aspects on self-identity, of being on the negative aspects on self-identity, of being forced to be ‘in-between-two-cultures’. forced to be ‘in-between-two-cultures’.

Negotiation of Identity Negotiation of Identity Integrated Plural Identity Integrated Plural Identity

Social & Cultural Norms and Social & Cultural Norms and Values by Pakistanis Values by Pakistanis

Pak – Pak – GoodGood

Pak - Pak - BadBad

Nor - Nor - GoodGood

Nor - Nor - BadBad

Respect Respect Control Control systemsystem

Individual Individual freedom/indfreedom/independenceependence

Self-Self-centred centred

CaringCaring Gender Gender discriminatidiscriminationon

Welfare Welfare systemsystem

Lack of Lack of family family systemsystem

Joint family Joint family Image of Image of IslamIslam

Alcoholism Alcoholism & & Youthness Youthness

Honest/Honest/hard hard workingworking

Second generation’s dilemma Second generation’s dilemma – conversation with a girl (23), – conversation with a girl (23),

in Osloin Oslo Norway born Pakistanis suffer a crisis of identity. It is Norway born Pakistanis suffer a crisis of identity. It is

our parents who came to Norway under the ‘spell’ of our parents who came to Norway under the ‘spell’ of economic migration but couldn’t completely integrate economic migration but couldn’t completely integrate with the local population. Because they were desperate with the local population. Because they were desperate to maintain traditions they were brought up in and to maintain traditions they were brought up in and comfortable with, they created their own community comfortable with, they created their own community within the wider community so as to establish a desi within the wider community so as to establish a desi (local/traditional Pakistani) atmosphere where they and (local/traditional Pakistani) atmosphere where they and their families could feel comfortable. And so begins the their families could feel comfortable. And so begins the problem. The second generation is torn between the two problem. The second generation is torn between the two almost completely different ways of life. The dilemma almost completely different ways of life. The dilemma occurs when these youngsters have to decide what they occurs when these youngsters have to decide what they identify with –– are they supposed to feel Pakistani or identify with –– are they supposed to feel Pakistani or Norwegian?Norwegian?

……… ……… Freedom of expression has it’s own worth and we Freedom of expression has it’s own worth and we (youth) are utilizing positively in different fields in (youth) are utilizing positively in different fields in Norway. Parents have to change their mind set regarding Norway. Parents have to change their mind set regarding integration and adjustment in Norwegian society and integration and adjustment in Norwegian society and they are changing it. they are changing it.

Parents Views – Integration Parents Views – Integration and Identity in Norway - Osloand Identity in Norway - Oslo

In complete contrast to the youth, the elders argued In complete contrast to the youth, the elders argued that traditions are marred because the youth are in that traditions are marred because the youth are in disarray and have lost understanding and respect for disarray and have lost understanding and respect for the values and traditions that have been the the values and traditions that have been the backbone of society for so long. According to parents backbone of society for so long. According to parents the blame is primarily attributed to the Norwegian the blame is primarily attributed to the Norwegian syndrome, and exposure to the western media.syndrome, and exposure to the western media.

Much to the elders’ dismay these youngsters wander Much to the elders’ dismay these youngsters wander aimlessly, indulge in trivial pursuits, drive fast cars, aimlessly, indulge in trivial pursuits, drive fast cars, listen to rap music, mimic Hollywood actors and care listen to rap music, mimic Hollywood actors and care only about their ‘bling’ image and ‘street cred’. only about their ‘bling’ image and ‘street cred’. When they speak, they proudly use a mixture of When they speak, they proudly use a mixture of slang and pure nonsense - none of which is slang and pure nonsense - none of which is comprehended by the elders.comprehended by the elders.

Demographic DimensionDemographic Dimension

Increasing number of second Increasing number of second generation;generation;

Impact on society;Impact on society; Educational participationEducational participation Labour force participationLabour force participation Engagement in organized crime Engagement in organized crime

Religious DimensionReligious Dimension

Islam – teaching vs. practice; Islam – teaching vs. practice; Second generation – image of Islam;Second generation – image of Islam; Cartoon’s discourse – role of Cartoon’s discourse – role of

Norwegian Pakistani’s Norwegian Pakistani’s What to do? Where to go?What to do? Where to go? 9/11, Media reporting & Society 9/11, Media reporting & Society

stereo-type??? stereo-type???

Way ForwardWay Forward With the passage of time Pakistani community has With the passage of time Pakistani community has

well integrated with Norwegian society, particularly well integrated with Norwegian society, particularly youths. youths.

Media’s perception, reporting and political discussion Media’s perception, reporting and political discussion can play a major role for their further social inclusion can play a major role for their further social inclusion in the society.in the society.

Highlighting positive aspects of the community can Highlighting positive aspects of the community can bring more fundamental results in the integration bring more fundamental results in the integration process in Norway. process in Norway.

More research work by outsiders (not Norwegian but More research work by outsiders (not Norwegian but either Pakistani or of other nationals) will enrich the either Pakistani or of other nationals) will enrich the research results and findings. research results and findings.

Old-fashioned sociological researches should be Old-fashioned sociological researches should be replaced with new inclusive approaches of replaced with new inclusive approaches of integration, migration and identity work in order to integration, migration and identity work in order to maximum utilizing migrants potential for the country.maximum utilizing migrants potential for the country.

Questions & Questions & Answers Answers

Thanks Thanks