Defining Unity in the UK:Proof in 2nd Generation Somali Immigrants

By Brittany Brown

Argument

By looking at the integration of 2nd generation Somali immigrants into UK society we can learn that for unity to be upheld, the government must:

– allow a group to have a strong and stable local community – allow use of language – allow continuance of cultural customs – Be stable enough for the group to have some sort of

allegiance to it. – allow religious practices

I argue the UK is an example of the implementation of both individual and group rights.

Pertinent History of Somalia

1886: British Gain Control over Northern Somalia

Early 1900’s: rebellion of British rule by Mohamed Abdullah

1920: British warplanes bomb Abdullah’s stronghold

Late 1920’s: Italian occupation extends 1940: Italy declares war on The UK, fighting

breaks out on Somali grounds 1948: Britain turns over many of their

territories to Ethiopia

Freedom from Italian/British Rule 1947 Peace Treaty: Italian Somaliland is

under a ten year international trusteeship system with Italy as the authority. Britain sets up foundational institutions.

1960: British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland gain independence and join to form the Somali Republic

1961: first constitution– Capital in southern (former Italian)

Somalia– Most government positions of southern

Somalis 1967: Mohamed Ibrahim Egal

reconciles with Ethiopia (traditional enemy since 16th century)

1969: bloodless coup installs Mohamed Siad Barre as president (ends party based constitutional democracy in Somalia)

1977: Somalia invades Ethiopia to gain back Ogaden. – Ethiopia forms alliance with Soviet Union– Somalia is defeated and retreats

Late 1970’s: Somalia forms alliance with the US

1982-1988: US viewed Somalia as a partner in defense in the Cold War

1980’s: discontent with the Barre regime, Civil War breaks out

1988: Barre bombs northern Somalia killing 10,000 civilians

1991: Barre is out of power, central gov. collapses. US enters along with UN.

Somalia left with...

Hundreds of thousands of refugeesSmall factions fighting for control of the

national territoryInsurgent forces controlling most of

Somalia – Hampering the ability for the newly formed

federal government to start with rebuilding and aid.

The Switch: Somalia to the UK

Somalia Today

Somali as an ethnic group is over 90% of population (others include Bantu and Arab)

99% are Muslim 37.8% of population can read and write 85% are nomadic pastoralists or farmers,

15-20% urban. National Language of Somali, but speak

Arabic, English, and Italian extensively

The UK Today

Major ethnic groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian

Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Muslim

English Language (some Welsh and Irish/Scottish Gaelic)

99% literacy rate--universal public education ages 5-16

Predominately urban and suburban 75,000 Somali refugees living there today

“Collective rights will only work if a group has the

freedom to have a bond with their own culture”

--Will Kimlika

Second Generation Identity

*1/3 of applicants for asylum in the UK are under 20 years old

Tug of war with parent’s idea of Somali identity and their identity as British citizens

More open to change in ideas than adults If not integrated, they face social harms that

can further contribute to process of marginalization (ie: crime and drugs)

Stability in the UK

Britain is seen as a ‘place of freedom to be whoever you are’

Seen as a ‘safe’ place With the Labour Party’s Election

Victory of 1997, the UK has become more:– Cosmopolitan, Multi-cultural and tolerant

The Local Community

Feel secure in their local community without necessarily self-identifying with the nation. – Able to reproduce a community of practice

with shared values, networks, and practices

– Sense of stake in the future of the UK– Lack of narrow prescriptions in

‘Britishness’

Language and Education

Speaking Somali at home is an important way of ensuring the children retain their roots and develop Somali identity--Parents not sufficient in English

Many come to the UK uneducated Taught to help one another (concept of the

civil war) Somali Community Homework Clubs:

– English, math, science, and Quaranic education

Religion as their Identity

Identities must be authorized by the owner– Lack of prescribed identities allows Somali

integration into the UK, while keeping something of their own (Muslim tradition)

Emotional investments in Muslim tradition in the face of their displacement

Denmark

‘Over’ integration of the Somali population – Schools designed to integrate refugees

into Danish Culture – No strong Somali community, everyone

dispersed into minority, poor ‘ethnic’ neighborhoods

– Over emphasis of ‘difference’ as bad, feeling of discrimination as the ‘out group’

Brazil

Brought in European immigrants to ‘whiten’ the country

Myth that everyone is mixed – State inaction and denial of informal

discrimination – Group stratification was an individuals

fault, not enough group representation– Ignoring of customs and traditions,

embracing only the nationalistic norms