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Assess The Claim That Multiculturalism Is Central To British Identity

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Assess the claim that multiculturalism is central to British Identity
British identity and Multiculturalism are terms which are highly subjective and thus can be interpreted in a variety of ways. This essay will contrast a range of interlinking ideas and themes in an attempt to demonstrate the contribution of multiculturalism to British identity. Multiculturalism is incorporated into our everyday lives, through the exposure to different cultures and minorities who coexist together. British identity can be perceived in a range of different ways depending upon personal experiences and family backgrounds, making it hard to define. National identity could be understood as a mutual understanding, which creates a sense of belonging for people within the community. The contestation arises as a consequence of such a wide disparity between levels of ethnicity across the UK. In 2011 Redcar & Cleveland and Allerdale had the highest proportion of white British at 97.6 percent each, whilst the London boroughs of Newham had just 16.7 percent (Office for National Statistics, 2011).This essay will explore the various contributions that multiculturalism makes to the overall British identity.
Multiculturalism in the UK has been brought about as a consequence of past colonialism. Diversity has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, a large …show more content…

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