Scotland’s young people embrace diversity, report reveals

Young people in Scotland are positive about the country’s diversity, according to new research by Universities of Newcastle, Edinburgh and Saint Andrews.

The ‘young people's everyday geopolitics in Scotland’ research conducted focus groups and interviews with 382 young Scots, many of whom were from ethnic minorities.

In its final report, Faith, Ethnicity, Place, the research team said the independence referendum debate acted as a catalyst for young people to reflect on what it meant to them to be Scottish, and that many felt that Scotland was a ‘fair society’ that was ‘diverse’ and ‘friendly’.

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Louise Macdonald, Young Scot Chief Executive

There was a strong sense of Scottishness among those born and brought up in Scotland, irrespective of their ethnic or religious identity and heritage. This was related to accent, friendliness, attitude and values rather than "superficial symbols" like bagpipes and haggis, the researchers heard.

Many engaged in inter-religious and multi-ethnic friendship groups at school and university.

Young Scottish Muslims questioned the use of the term ‘Islamophobia’, according to researchers, preferring the term ‘racism’. Most blamed the media for reinforcing stereotypes.

Non-Muslim South Asian young people said they were frequently mistaken for Muslims.

“Importantly, young people outlined that, whilst anti-Muslim incidences were increasing in Scotland, they were not as serious and problematic as they perceived to occur in England,” the report said.

In his introduction, lead researcher Peter Hopkins, Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University said Scotland had a distinct history of migration and settlement. “It would appear that Scotland has been successful in providing a context in which ethnic and religious minority groups who are perceived as different feel more accepted,” he said.

Despite increased political awareness, the excitement of being able to vote at 16 or having an awareness of social issues does not necessarily translate to being politically engaged, the report said. Respondents were not always clear on how to access politics and influence change.

In total 382 young people aged 12-26 participated in the research from both urban and rural areas, including 100 young Muslims, 81 non-Muslim South Asians, 37 asylum seekers and refugees, 30 international students, 39 Central and Eastern European migrants, and 96 White Scottish young people.