Framing English as a second language education: a comparative study of policy provision in London and New York

PhDAgainst the background of a proliferation of large non-English-speaking ethnic linguistic communities in Britain and the United States, this thesis examines the provision of English as a Second Language (ESL) and bilingual education policies in London and New York City respectively. The thesis is divided into three parts. Part I traces the transformation of English into an international linguistic phenomenon and the significance acquired by ESL and bilingual education policies. In particular, attention is focused on the educational challenges faced by English-speaking nations that are home to sizeable non-English-speaking communities. After this introductory overview, the interpretive theoretical framework, in which the thesis is based, is then presented. Drawing from the works of Yanow, Hajer and others, both ESL and bilingual education are understood as taking place within a multi-organisational context, where different players attribute different meanings to this policy. Part II goes on to explore the contrasting ways in which ESL and bilingual education policies have been framed both in Britain and in the United States. While in the UK ESL tuition has evolved as a by-product of immigration and racc-relations policies, in the USA bilingual education has however been construed as a linguistic right. Part III then introduces an empirical analysis of the provision of ESL and bilingual programmes in the context of London and New York City. This section specifically deals with the educational needs of two non-English-speaking groups: the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets and the Hispanic community in Manhattan. Following from these players' language experiences, the fieldwork is used to - identify three distinctive ESL/bilingual, education discourse coalitions, namely the assimilationists, exclusivists and social integrationists. Based on different value-systems, each of these 'policy frames' represents their advocates' particular understanding of ESL and bilingual education policies. Having finally ascertained the impact of multiple meanings on the second language education policy process, the thesis concludes by advocating further interpretive research in the analysis of public policy

Despite #MeToo, tackling sexual harassment of women in parliament remains a challenge

Christina Julios discusses the scale of the sexual harassment problem in the UK Parliament. She writes that consistent with Hollywood’s film industry and innumerable institutions worldwide, sexual misconduct in Parliament was to prove endemic and cut across the entire political spectrum – from the Conservative Party’s so-called sex pest dossier of 36 offending MPs, to the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats

Migration and identity processes among first-generation British South Asians

There has been little scholarly attention to the identities and migratory experiences of first-generation British South Asians, especially from social psychologists. Drawing upon Identity Process Theory, this article examines the inter-relations between migration and identity processes among twenty first-generation British South Asians. The interview data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results suggested that migration was perceived as a means of enhancing identity and that following migration individuals acquired a ‘higher’ social status in the homeland. Moreover, the psychologically traumatic aspects of migration, such as the loss of community and ‘otherisation’ from one's ethnic ingroup, were outlined. It is argued that migration can have profound socio-psychological implications and that decades later it can continue to shape individuals' sense of self and their attachment to relevant social categories. Furthermore, migration has important outcomes for the extent and nature of British national identification as well one's relationship with the ethnic ‘homeland’

Bilingualism and the new American identity

Book synopsis: This is a multidisciplinary exploration of the problems and paradoxes that emerge immediately the subject of idenitiy is raised. It draws together eminent academics from a variety of disciplines including anthropology, history, law, linguistics, politics, psychology and sociology, to examine the way in which issues of identity have impacted on society and the way in which changes in society have resulted in a re-evaluation of identity. Topics covered include, German identity after re-unification, the political and legal problems of European citizenship, elderly migrants and identity and political group identity. The book explores identity in three sections: British, European and global. The main conclusion reached is that at any period in history the question of identity is a complex one composed of interacting facets which combine in larger or smaller proportions to create the whole, be that individual, group, ethnic, religious, national or supra-national. The book sets out to identify facets that contribute to the whole and by doing so, answers some of the questions surrounding identity

Towards a European language policy

Book synopsis: This accessible and innovative book recognizes that the European Union is now of crucial importance to the whole continent, and analyses the situation in both the East and the West. It offers a thorough discussion of issues such as the euro, social policy, democracy and security, and includes areas that are often overlooked: cultural policy; language; policing; and the specific experience of small states. By analyzing past trends in European unity and disunity European Integration in the Twenty-first Century also offers stimulating insights into possible developments in the future. Finally, the book moves beyond a narrow preoccupation with the economic market to identify new ways in which to construct a broader, more meaningful political and socio-economic community. Bringing together experts from different fields, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the many challenges to the on-going European integration project

Sexual Harassment in the UK Parliament: Lessons from the #MeToo Era

Examines the phenomenon of sexual harassment in the UK Parliament along with devolved institutions in Scotland and Wales Views the UK Parliament’s experience against the backdrop of Hollywood's Weinstein sex scandal and the #MeToo movement Draws on an intersectional feminist lens to raise key questions about gender and power dynamics in the modern workplac

Forced marriage and 'honour' killings in Britain: private lives, community crimes and public policy perspectives

Book synopsis: This book explores the contemporary phenomenon of forced marriage and ‘honour’ killings in Britain. Set against a background of increasing ‘honour’-based violence within the country’s South Asian and Muslim Diasporas, the book traces the development of the ‘honour’ question over the past two decades. It accordingly witnesses unprecedented changes in public awareness and government policy including ground-breaking ‘honour’-specific legislation and the criminalisation of forced marriage. All of which makes Britain an important context for the study of this now indigenous and self-perpetuating social problem. In considering the scale of the challenge and its underlying causes, attention is paid to the intersections of gendered power structures that disadvantage female members of ‘honour’ cultures as well as feminist theories that seek to explain them. The book features five key case-studies of ‘honour’ killings and draws from a wide range of narratives including those of ‘honour’ violence survivors, grassroots service providers and legislators. Such myriad of perspectives reveals the complexity of the ‘honour’ issue and the deep ideological divisions that characterise it. With the UK’s multiculturalist discourse unable to reconcile protecting patriarchal minority cultures with safeguarding gender equality and human rights, the book raises fundamental questions about the country’s future direction. Following a long trend of state-sponsored integrationist policies, the government’s response to the ‘honour’ question points decisively in the direction of a ‘post-multicultural’ British nation