Challenges

Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 6.4.2

Challenges and Benefits of Migration

There are both benefits and challenges to face because of internal and international migration.

Housing shortages and price rises, because the amount of housing available is limited.
There are challenges in delivering education and health care because of language barriers and limited school and medical facilities.
There are cultural challenges to overcome in traditional rural areas that had rarely experienced ‘outsiders’ or change.

A8 migrants have reduced the average age of rural areas and boosted population because they tend to be young and have children.
Economic opportunities have been created because many A8 migrants have set up their own businesses e.g. food shops serving migrant tastes.
More cultural diversity in classrooms teaches people from a young age to be tolerant and kind to everyone, regardless of background.

Levels of segregation (migrants living in clusters) reflect cultural, economic and social variations and changes over time.

Ethnic segregation takes place for both the rich and the poor.
Segregation can be based on economic reasons – many of the 150,000 Russians living in London live in expensive properties in Kensington and Chelsea.
They have ‘exported’ their wealth from Russia into the London property market.

On the other hand, the majority of Bangladeshi migrants are poor and are concentrated in some of the poorest parts of the UK. For example, Tower Hamlets, including Whitechapel and Spitalfields.
Their poverty is compounded by high unemployment, relatively high rates of illness, larger family sizes and a lack of skills including the inability to speak English.
There are recent signs of improvement in education performance for young Bangladeshis (higher GCSE pass rates).

Urban landscapes reflect the dominant ethnic group (a 'cultural stamp')
There are places of worship such as mosques and Hindu temples.
There are shops selling cooking ingredients for specific cultures and traditional dress (e.g. sari shops).
There are festivals to reflect different ethnic groups e.g. the Notting Hill and Chapeltown (Leeds) Carnivals.
E.g. ‘Curry Mile’ in Rusholme (Manchester), restaurants in Brick Lane (Banglatown) and Southall (London).

Segregated areas can be perceived by outsiders in negative ways, and perceptions have changed over time.

The original post-colonial migrants experienced hostility and discrimination from some of the UK’s population.
Elements of this remain from some people (E.g. the English Defence League, EDL), though perceptions have changed over time.

Ethnic communities have grown wealthier, by setting up businesses and moving into professional and managerial jobs.
Second and third generation immigrants have passed through the UK education system and their culture is more likely to be a hybrid of British and their ethnic cultures.
Members of immigrant communities have become local and national politicians, giving their people a voice they lacked previously e.g. in 2015 there were 41 MPs from ethnic minorities.

Where are there most likely to be cultural challenges with 'outsiders' to be overcome?
Where in London could you find lots of property owned by Russian oligarchs?
How many MPs were there from ethnic minorities in 2015?
Which of the following statements are true?