London Multiculturalism

London is the multicultural centre of Europe. It has 7 million inhabitants who between them speak 300 different languages (Storkey 2000).

As the Australian politician, Alan Griffiths said, “Multiculturalism is much older than democracy in Britain".

In fact, over the last 200 years various groups of immigrants have arrived in Britain. In the 19th century the first people who arrived were Jewish people who fled from persecution in Russia and Poland and Irish who settlers tried to escape poverty.

Between the 1950s and 1970s, almost all immigrants came from colonies or Commonwealth countries (mostly in the Caribbean and West Indies).

London is the niche of multiculturalism, with 300 different languages spoken, people from some 179 countries, different religions (Atlas).

Moreover, we can notice that in London Muslims are the most important ethnic group, with the largest group (Bangladeshis), in fact ‘London’s Muslim population of 607,083 people is probably the most diverse anywhere in the world, besides Mecca’ (what the map don’t show, 2005).

The question actually, is what really means multiculturalism? Is it only the fact that there are a lot of different cultures in a city which cohabite together? This point put in the light the problem of the multiculturalism, which is that the different cultures integrate the British culture but they do not assimilate it, so all these culture keep their own behaviour and does not try to understand the host culture. That is why the problem with all these culture is to know exactly what is Englishness? In fact, Englishness does not mean a single culture; even the British political system is founded on different values but even those inequalities still remain (So what exactly is multiculturalism? 5/04/2004).

The most important actually is to know if multiculturalism creates exclusion and if it has failed.

The first part to answer to this question is to show that Multiculturalism in a sense is part of the London life, so it has not failed.

First of all, multiculturalism has step by step turned into a commodification.

It means that different things, products are sold but inside boundaries,

the most successful examples in London are Chinatown and Brick Lane.

These two areas are limited by boundaries, for examples in Chinatown it is the two arches in Gerrard Street and even the Chinese writing under the street name, even in Brick Lane, which is called Banglatown the area is limited by the writing under the street name.

Having boundaries means that is in a way reserved for tourist to help them finding their way. In fact these boundaries are for tourists so in those areas a numerous of local product are sold, for example the food, in Brick Lane there are food from all around the world (Indian, Mexican, Chinese…), in Chinatown there are mainly Chinese restaurant, Chinese supermarket, Chinese goods.

In those areas, we can see a lot of tourists, but even a lot of Chinese and Bangladeshi people, but who do not live here, which make them not excluded even if for example in Chinatown only Chinese came to the Chinese hairdresser.

These two areas are even really centralized in London, and with a lot of attractions around them, it is this, which make it attractive for tourists and local people.

In another hand, specific events have become more and more popular.

The two most important events are the Notting Hill Carnival and the Chinese New Year.

The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe and originated in 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions (the Notting Hill Carnival). Taking place every August Bank Holiday weekend in the streets of London. The Carnival becomes a very popular and attending event for Afro-Caribbean but also for everyone, it is anchored in London most attending event.

In the same way, The Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities, which take place in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Chinatown.

Every year, almost 500 000 people came to the Chinese New Year and enjoy the festivities.

These Festivals are basically a way of fostering intercultural exchange and understanding.

The second part to

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