Diversity and identity in societal context: introductory remarks

This introductory piece highlights key themes raised by Sir Bernard Crick and Professor Tariq Ramadan. Firstly I consider why citizenship is on the agenda and how these discourses are increasingly linked to discourses of diversity and identity. Secondly, I consider understandings of integration, especially with respect to Muslims, and thirdly, multiple identities and the public/private sphere debate. I propose the concept of 'institutional multiculturalism' which entails firstly, a recognition that public institutions are not culture-neutral domains, and secondly, promoting the process of a diverse 'authoring' in public sphere institutions to reflect the UK's diversity today.