In this podcast, leading intercultural policy expert Dr Robin Wilson discusses immigration and the end of multiculturalism.
Dr Wilson sets out the economic “pull” factors behind migration patterns and analyses how “portal” cities such as Patras in Greece and Lampedusa in Italy cope with the new arrivals.
The Belfast-based expert also gives his views on how newcomers can be integrated into European societies, offering interculturalism as an improvement on the “failed” ideas of multi-culturalism.
“There are all kinds of ways in which cities can be culturally enriched by having diverse populations,” he says. “Innovation can be encouraged to stimulate the economy and entrepreneurship. The city can become a magnet for tourism and for specialised labour coming from outside.”
Many of the themes addressed by Dr Wilson will be discussed at an Intercultural Cities conference in Dublin, from 6-8 February.
The conference, organised as part of Ireland’s EU presidency and Andorra’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, will bring to the Irish capital experts and local authority officials from Europe, north America, China and Japan.
They will gather to review the progress of the Intercultural Cities project, a joint Council of Europe-EU venture.
The Essential
Podcast: Migration 2013 – View from Barcelona
News: Dublin conference to discuss impact of ‘interculturalism’
Conference: Making diversity work for cities (6-8 February)
Conference: Business partnerships for the Intercultural City – Making the Diversity Advantage real
Podcast: The challenge of diversity
Information: Governance and policies for diverse communities
Conference: Equal access for Europe’s minority language speakers
News: Assembly – Europe must show greater solidarity with Greece over migrants
Podcast: Censorship, human rights and the campaign against online hate speech
Podcast: Tackling police racism
Podcast: The Last Rites For Multiculturalism?
Podcast: Europe’s Identity Crisis
Website: Dr Robin Wilson
Follow the Intercultural Cities conference on Twitter #DublinICC
