Ethnicity, Class and Culture in Dublin

The locals’ self-esteem is at a low ebb as a result of generations of State neglect and discrimination, and of scapegoating on the basis of class; and so they in turn will be tempted to scapegoat the newcomers. Besides, many of the African male immigrants are middle-class, and have had longer years of schooling than the inner-city natives; hailing from a male-dominating society, they may also demonstrate a quite dismissive attitude towards local young women. Many locals perceive the newcomers as privileged interlopers - all set to take their jobs and the best of any new housing (and allegedly flush with “welfare” money for mobile phones and for socializing).

Locals may also have begun to credit the stereotype of the immigrant as an ex-criminal and as quarrelsome and violent. The educational task of disabusing them of this idea will need to employ a method found successful in deconstructing a prejudiced image of Travellers:- Have the locals visit the “outsiders” in their living quarters...actually engage in conversation with them...personally check out the contentious issues ! (Nobody, however is suggesting that a certain few quite extreme cultural manifestations can be tolerated, e.g., female genital mutilation, aspects of Sharia law, low status of Roma women). Indeed, the only really effective anti-racism training has to take place in the rough-and-tumble of daily ethnic interaction at work or during sport and leisure. It is to the credit of local community leaders that (with no civic intervention) they, for instance, effected reconciliation between the owner of a pub, where interracial violence had flared briefly, and an African shop-keeper whose premises had been wrecked in the aftermath.

Many non-nationals work long hours on a very low wage, and are being exploited. This removes the niche of opportunity for Irish long-term unemployed - and deflates wages long-term. It may also have the unfortunate effect of discouraging further immigration - when, in fact, more workers will be needed as the ageing and decline of our population turns critical.

Patricia McCarthy is a sociologist and head of research at The Community Technical Aid, Dublin.

Michael Rafferty is Director of The Community Technical Aid.