A Study Of The Role Of National Identity And Citizenship In Immigration Policy Under New Labour Party In Britain (2001～2010)

As the British Empire gradually collapsed, Britain had to redefine itself as a nationand to create a national citizenship for itself. In the globalized world today, the increase inthe number of immigrants is resulting in a significant migration flow into Britain. Alongwith this trend, more debates upon British national identity and citizenship are exposed inthe spotlight, particularly in the wake of terrorist attacks such as the9/11attacks in the U.S.and the7/7terrorist bombings in London.Post-war Britain has adopted various discourses of national identity and citizenship,the significance of which grew markedly in the new century, particularly in the wake of9/11and the2001summer riots in northern England cities. That explains why the thesiswould focus on the role of national identity and citizenship in the development ofimmigration policies in the new century.The thesis makes a detailed study of the role of citizenship and national identity basedon the order of time, and also the nature of immigration policies. The thesis attempts toargue that national identity and citizenship play a key role in the reform of immigrationpolicies, which is also to prove that Rogers Brubaker ‘s theory on the determinants ofimmigration policy still prevails in the21stcentury. In the first half of the decade in the21stcentury (2001-2005), the new Labour government under Tony Blair mainly adopted apro-active immigration policy, which is consistent with David Blunkett‘s proposal of anactive citizenship and a civic national identity. These pro-active immigration policies haveresulted in a multicultural society featuring super diversity. However, the7/7Londonterrorist bombings in2005as well as other social turmoil also show that social instabilitystill prevails in the British society and that British national identity keeps being destroyed.The immigration policy development after7/7London terrorist bombings (2006-2010)further clarifies the purpose to maintain British national identity and the paths towardsearned citizenship. The managed migration and earned citizenship advocated by GordonBrown is reflective of new Labour Party‘s measures to maintain British national identitythrough advocating shared values. However, the managed immigration policy thatadvocates stronger national identity and citizenship resulted in an alleged crisis or even thedeath of multiculturalism, which the thesis argues against. The thesis sees a possibility ofcontinuity in multiculturalism and makes predictions on future immigration development,namely the proposal of a multicultural citizenship.Based on the above analysis, the thesis mainly arrives at two conclusions. First,national identity and citizenship have played a prominent role in the development ofimmigration policies, and that the role has grew more remarkable and significant due topolitical, social and international reasons, which also proves the truth of Brubaker‘s theory.Second, while it is claimed by some scholars and politicians that national identity andmulticulturalism are contradictory and in conflict with each other, the thesis tries to arguethat national identity and multiculturalism are not mutually exclusive, and that there is stilla possibility of continuity in multiculturalism while maintaining national identity.