The problem of immigration is now a very urgent for many countries. Acceleration of the process of globalization leads to a sharp intensification of migration flows. According to data of Office for National Statistics , the number of European immigrants in 2015 reached 180 000 people, it increased by 42 000 persons; the number of non-European migrants in Europe has exceeded 201,000 people, which is 36 000 more than in 2014. In Europe, there are already 32, 6% of all international migrants. The first place in the number of migrants in the European countries is Germany (10.8 million migrants), the second - France (6.7 million.). UK only slightly behind France. According to UN experts , the number of international migrants in 2010 was here more than 6.5 million people (13% of the population).
Mass immigration to United Kingdom began in the late 1950s, when British industry was experiencing an acute need for labor and therefore the British Isles rushed migrants from former colonies. Since then, and now the main supplier of immigrants to the UK are Commonwealth countries, they account for slightly less than half of the total immigration flow. Historical ties, knowledge of English, close ties to the ethnic communities have settled in the UK - all that stimulates the influx of more and more immigrants from the former British colonies.
The result of intensive labor migration from Muslim countries was the fact that Islam is now the second largest religion of the UK. The level of growth of the Muslim migrants cannot surprise. In 1961, there were 50 thousand Muslims, accounting for 0.11% of the total population; in 1971 - 226 thousand (0.46%); in 1981 - 553 thousand (1.11%); in 1991 - 950 thousand (1.86%); in 2001 - 1.6 million. (3.07%) . Finally, according to the last census in 2011, in UK live 2,869,000 Muslims, accounting for 4.8% of the total population . Thus, only in the last 20 years, the population number of Muslims has increased more than 3 times! It is worth noting that the Muslim population is a young and rapidly growing: around 60% - these are people younger than 30 years. The most part of Muslims live in such parts of the UK as England and Wales. They are concentrated in urban areas; about 40% are located in London, which represents 8.5% of the total urban population .
Taking into account all immigration facts, I would like to know what attracts immigrants to the UK. The answers could be quite logical:
- High level of well-being.
- The liberal welfare system, which allows immigrants to use social services on an equal basis with the indigenous people.
- British tolerance towards foreigners, due to the fact that this country has a long democratic tradition and attaches great importance to human rights.
However, the mass migration of Muslims in the UK caused by a number of both economic and political reasons, which affect beneficially for the British. Among the economic reasons, the most important is the interest in British business migrants, which use cheap labor, can significantly reduce production costs and thereby increase their competitiveness in both domestic and foreign markets. As for political reasons, it should be noted that an increase in the number of migrants caught up in the UK and increasing their role in the life of British society policies are increasingly beginning to use them in a political struggle between the rival parties. Especially vividly, it manifests itself during election campaigns, when the competition for votes is particularly acute.
Nevertheless, recently, the number of opponents of immigration has increased significantly, which is understandable: in a deteriorating economy and rising unemployment more pronounced negative effects of the impact of immigrants in the labor market . In an unfavorable economic situation prevailing at present in the UK, immigrants are becoming increasingly heavy burden for the country. The low level of qualification, which is characteristic for the majority of immigrants, does not meet the demand for labor and already difficult situation in the labor market is further aggravated.
An important additional factor working in this direction is the growing tensions between the indigenous population and immigrants, in which the influx of many British sees one of the main reasons for the increase in unemployment. Indigenous people accused migrants that the benefits and numerous facilities provided for migrants and members of their families are becoming a heavy burden on social services and significantly cut back the share of social expenditures allocated for the maintenance of the living standards of the indigenous British .
Most clearly, the consequences of mass emigration to the UK are manifested in its negative impact on the ethnic and religious composition of British society. In the last 50 years, the United Kingdom is relatively homogeneous ethnically and culturally the country has become a multi-ethnic and multicultural. Moreover, this process is irreversible.
Drawing short conclusions, perspectives will look like with an overall decline in the birth rate among the indigenous population and accounting the today’s situation of Muslim migration, the percentage of the Muslim population of the UK will only grow. It seems that the policy of discrimination, segregation and isolation would not be effective (it is not itself already). Due to the growth of Muslim appearance in the social and political life of the UK, the influence of Islam will increase as well.
Bibliography
Ali, S., 2015. British Muslims in numbers: A Demographic, Socio-economic and Health profile of Muslims in Britain drawing on the 2011 Census. London: Muslim Council of Britain.
Anonymous, 2004. Aspirations and Reality: British Muslims and the Labour Market. Open Society Institute, pp. 5-54.
Office for National Statistics, 2015. Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, s.l.: s.n.
UN, 2011. International Migration Report 2009: A Global Assessment, NY: United Nations.
