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<h1 class="">David Cameron and the discrimination of language laws</h1>
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<span class="">by <a href="http://mcgilltribune.com/a/?author=Ryan%20Shah">Ryan Shah</a> </span>
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<p class="" style="float:left">Jan 29, 2016</p>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a3b9cf2-8eed-f179-d416-00d366470365">British Prime Minister David Cameron’s most recent </span><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-politics-women-muslims-idUKKCN0UW14F">language policy</a>
is aimed at mitigating extremism in Britain by improving the English
skills of Muslim women. It requires that migrants to Britain on spousal
visas pass an English test after residing in Britain for a certain
period of time. The penalty for failure: The cancellation of their visa.
Though Cameron concedes that there is no direct link between poor
English language skills and extremism, he believes that compelling
Muslim women to learn English will help them <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/why-can-nobody-admit-that-camerons-policy-for-muslim-women-is-feminist-and-empowering-a6821436.html">better integrate</a>
and thus stymie Islamist radicalization. In short, this coercive policy
is sure to intensify the alienation of an already disenfranchised
community and stiffen exclusive group identities; Cameron would do well
to learn from Quebec’s language policies in response to the migrant
crisis.
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a3b9cf2-8eed-f179-d416-00d366470365">As
xenophobic and populist movements draw increasing support throughout
North America and Europe, mainstream politicians have responded in
kind—shifting the prevailing political narrative further to the right.
Though certain nations, such as Canada, have remained at least
relatively insulated from this seemingly unstoppable tide of
demonization and division, it is evident that migrant communities the
world over will have to grapple with the hardships of starting life in a
new country in an increasingly hostile climate. In such a time,
politicians must be wary of their word choice. Leveraging differences
between minorities and their broader communities, even with the
intention of integration, dangerously situates the discourse in the ‘us’
vs.‘them’ narrative.</span>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a3b9cf2-8eed-f179-d416-00d366470365">Cameron’s
decision to directly target such a marginalized and disadvantaged
community is, at best, misguided. At worst, it is intentionally divisive
and hateful. Cameron’s policy compounds a vast number of women from
diverse backgrounds into a monolithic other that must be socialized,
lest their husbands and brothers turn them into enemies of the West.
While it may be intended to empower otherwise marginalized women, the
language of the policy is aimed at sending a message to men—Cameron </span><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-politics-women-muslims-idUKKCN0UW14F">has said</a>
that “this will make it clear to those men who stop their partners from
integrating that there are consequences.” However, Cameron is also
sending a message to newly immigrated Muslim women that they must learn
English or get out of the country. The English language is, therefore,
not a symbol of national cohesion, but a tool used by the government to
force the hand of an isolated community. Immigrants who are Muslim women
will instead feel more excluded and targeted, providing them with less
incentive to participate in broader British society.
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a3b9cf2-8eed-f179-d416-00d366470365">This
being said, not all language policies are created equal. The emergence
of xenophobic policy is not a universal phenomenon. Quebec’s response,
for instance, to the some 7,300 Syrian refugees that will be living in
the province by the end of 2016 has been to </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-syrian-refugees-french-language-integration-1.3399937">invest in the provision of access to French lessons</a>
within 45 days of their arrival to the province. Unlike Cameron’s
policy, this plan doesn’t call for coercive deadlines or finger-point at
would-be radicals. Rather, it acknowledges the inherent economic
vulnerability of new migrants and affords them the opportunity to
develop their linguistic skills.
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-4a3b9cf2-8eed-f179-d416-00d366470365">What
separates these two policies is how they are situated in the broader
context of international migration and the migrant crisis. The UK’s
mandate that Muslim women migrating to the country must conform to
language standards within a set deadline creates a precedent regarding
how newcomers to western nations should be treated. If the premise of
Cameron’s policy is to be believed, migrants are ill-intentioned
miscreants who, without intervention, will smuggle insidious ideas into
‘our country.’ Quebec’s policy differs from that of the UK’s insofar as
it isn’t focused on saving ‘us’ from ‘them;’ it is aimed instead at
aiding members of a community that are transitioning to a new
environment. As increasing amounts of vulnerable migrants from across
the world move to the West, politicians must be mindful of the contexts
in which they are implementing policy. Though integration of migrant
populations is a laudable goal, it must be carried out in ways that
respect, not demonize, minority communities.</span></p>
<a href="http://www.mcgilltribune.com/opinion/david-cameron-discrimination-language-laws-643182/">http://www.mcgilltribune.com/opinion/david-cameron-discrimination-language-laws-643182/</a><br></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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