Globalization
has favored unprecedented levels of global migration. In fact, through
globalization, rate of migration has increased and, for instance, expert
analyses agree that immigration in Spain has become a structural and not a
temporary phenomenon, and that it plays a fundamental role in our economic
growth and the sustainability of our social model, to the extent that it
contributes to making our pensions system sustainable…
Globalization
has favored unprecedented levels of global migration. In fact, through
globalization, rate of migration has increased and, for instance, expert
analyses agree that immigration in Spain has become a structural and not a
temporary phenomenon, and that it plays a fundamental role in our economic
growth and the sustainability of our social model, to the extent that it
contributes to making our pensions system sustainable.
Globalization
and migration imply that we are experiencing a bigger profusion of contacts
between many different cultures. However, not all countries are equally open to
international migrants and the greater diversity of our societies is perceived more
like a threat than an opportunity. In my opinion, countries have to manage
the coexistence of cultures and promote multicultural societies. Those
challenges have to be some of our most important goals for the very next years
and I think we have to work together because, as you all know, in unity there
is strength.
First of all,
if we want multiculturalism, we need migrants to stay in our countries so we
have to pay attention to their quality of life and give them reasons to stay. We
also have to offer them a system that facilitates their economic integration
and a welfare system that provides a balance between rights and
responsibilities and require active citizenship because those countries tend to
have fewer negative reactions to immigration that those without both systems.
This idea of the social foundation that fosters health and well-being, and
which contributes to the bonds of community, is conceptualized as “glue” by
Harvard business professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter.
Once they have
settled in our cities; how can our countries manage the coexistence of
cultures and promote multicultural societies?
We could start
by eradicating all those elements that promote intolerance, discrimination and
racism. A good way to do it could be establishing anti-discrimination policies
and immigration and asylum policies that take into account the country´s needs,
people´s concerns and, above all, human rights because regulated and organized
immigration represents an opportunity.
At this point,
I would like to mention that we have to combat networks that traffic
in human beings because it involves the exploitation of the migrant, often for
purposes of forced labour and prostitution and it attempts on Human Rights,
coexistance of cultures and multicultural societies.
Going back to
eradicating those elements that promote intolerance, we have to realize that is
absolutely linked with education and that is why I suggest that we should
educate our kids in tolerance but also in diversity because we all have our own
identity and that is what makes our societies richer. We have to teach them to
respect, celebrate and enjoy diversity of culture. We have to encourage people
to be proud of what they are because in diversity we find unity and richness.
There are many
ways to implement multiculturalism such as organizing cultural events, fairs
and conferences. Sport has become a “society linker” where many different
cultures converge so we have to take advantage of that by, for example, celebrating
local sport events that promote the coexistence of cultures. Here I would like
to point out that local bodies have a very important role to play because they
are the closest entities to people.
Another good
way to implement multiculturalism could be making the media and new
technologies accessible to everyone because they put a lot of information within
reach of the whole world and that is why they are also fundamental elements to
promote multiculturalism, making people understand different cultures and learn
in/from diversity. It´s essential to introduce our children into the use of the
internet as it offers, from their own schools, the possibility of learning
about different cultures, ethnic groups and their history and even knowing
people from all over the world.
To sum up, I
would like to say that we have to make multiculturalism attractive to people,
we have to make it cool because it really is.
We have to
open people´s eyes by making open countries.
©Enrique Ferrer Poggio. 2009.