SIXTH INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE

WORKSHOP 11: Religions, Cultures and Multicultural Societies.

Tuesday, 27 November 2001
16:00 - 17:30

Please note: changes will follow

ORGANIZERS

Name: Emine Kaya
Title: Drs., MA
Affiliation/Name of Institution: Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations
Mailing address: P.O. Box 20011, 2500 EA The Hague (DCIM, H415)
Courier address: Schedeldoekshaven 200, The Hague
Telephone number 070-4266737
Fax number: 070-4267638
E-mail address: emine.kaya@minbzk.nl



WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Goal First, this workshops aims to be a follow up of the workshop "The place of Religion in Ethnic Self- Understanding and Immigrant Integration" of the last Metropolis conference in Vancouver 2000. Second, the permanent settlement of ethnic minorities has resulted not only in a growing pressure on the existing infrastructural provisions, but also made the creation of specific provisions (such as mosques, Hindu or Islamic schools) indispensable. This stimulated the discussion of possibilities and desirability to integrate in European society amongst ethnic minorities, while at the same time retaining the distinctive traits of their original cultures and their religious heritage.

The policy relevance is to analyse from an international perspective the factors that are standing in the way of emancipation of and of equal opportunities for ethnic and religious minorities and which therefore contribute to their economic, social and cultural marginalisation.
The structural obstacles, which will be discussed, are inherent to society, to individuals and groups concerned. The former are reflected in interethnic relations and especially in the form of prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination of ethnic or religious minorities. Furthermore, barriers can be found within the institutional and legal sectors of society. Barriers inherent to individuals and groups concerned are traditionalism, deficiency in education and language skills. At a group level, factors such as intra-and interethnic, religious and cultural diversity and discord, and a lack of organisational unity on a national level, can be considered as structural barriers as well.
The policy makers can attribute to this workshop by addressing the institutional and legal sector; the researchers can provide a international comparative analysis from a scientific point of view, i.e. in the field of sociology, anthropology, and political science; the NGO's can participate in the relevant sector, i.e. the cultural and religious organisations of the ethnic minorities.

International comparisons will be introduced into the discussion by providing a multidisciplinary and international analysis of the position of ethnic minorities i.e. Norway, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Several guest speakers will be invited to shortly present their knowledge and experiences in the field. Thereafter an open discussion will take place involving all participants under the lead of a chairperson invited by the Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations

DURATION: 1,5 hour


PARTICIPANTS
3 presentations: J. Doomernik, B. Richner, prof. Y.G. Lithman
chair: Ben Koolen

1. Researchers:
Dr J. Doomernik
Department of Human Geography
University of Amsterdam
Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130
1018 VZ Amsterdam
Netherlands

lic.phil. Barbara Richner
Ethnologisches Seminar der
Universität Zürich
Tel. ++41 1 634 48 38
barbararichner@access.unizh.ch

Prof. Y.G. Lithman
International Migration and Ethnic Relations
Professor Keyersgate 2
N-5007 Bergen
Norway

2. Policy-makers
B. Koolen, E. Kaya

3. NGO's
Representatives of the (religious, cultural and multicutural) umbrella organisations

Panel chairman:
Dr. B. Koolen (senior policy advisor Ministery of Home Affairs)