Ethnicity, Networks and Voice Mechanisms in Established and Hard to Reach BME Communities: Capacity Building and Beyond
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Business School
Abstract
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Organisations
| Description | Inaugural meeting of the Voice and Ethnicity Research and Action Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The ESRC seminar series was focused on the way participative mechanisms and new forms of representation were emerging in BME communities. It tried to map the way communities and social organisations viewed and responded to participation gaps. However, in the past two years we have seen a new political climate posing serious challenges to the participation and networking around equality issues. First, we have a new formal questioning of social and equality rights in the UK disguised in the form of a defence of 'regulatory simplicity'. Second, the resourcing of social organisations related to equality is being undermined within a generalised assault on the welfare state. Third, discourse at the UK government and EU levels have accelerated and are clearly attempting to be a populist attempt at indicating a change in policy on migration. Consequently, the environment has become even more difficult, providing further challenges to both minority ethnic communities and the agenda of social and equality rights. The meeting will focus on two questions. First, how have these changes impacted on the structures of representation within - and concerning -various communities? Second how should VERN develop its agenda as a network in relation to these changes? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |