The cornerstone of Britain's strength lies in its diverse and unified democracy, forged through centuries of hard-fought struggles for rights and freedoms.
However, it would be a mistake to assume that the work towards building an inclusive and cohesive society is complete. Safeguarding and advancing our pluralistic democracy demands ongoing vigilance.
In a recent report titled 'The Khan Review: Threats to Social Cohesion And Democratic Resilience', Dame Sara Khan DBE, Independent Adviser to the UK Government for Social Cohesion and Resilience, has highlighted an escalating climate of threats and harassment which is resulting in significant censorship affecting both politicians and the general public.
Dame Khan identifies "freedom-restricting harassment" as a pervasive, subtle, and often overlooked risk to social cohesion and notes that this threat extends to academic freedom, press freedom, the arts and cultural sector, and civil society.
The review, inclusive of a nationally represented sample of 1,279 respondents aged 16 and above revealed that 85 per cent perceive freedom-restricting harassment as prevalent in the UK, with 60 per cent believing the issue has worsened over the past five years. Dame Khan substantiates her findings with case studies, including the incident at Batley Grammar School and consulting extensively with experts, practitioners, victims, and officials nationwide.
In an interview with Asian Voice, she explains the report in simple terms, the suggestions and recommendations made and how the society can work together to aid social cohesion.
What prompted this comprehensive review on social cohesion? Could you elaborate on some of the key challenges identified in your review?
The Khan Review published on the March 25, 2024 identifies threats to social cohesion and democratic resilience. These include worrying levels of disillusionment with democracy, the spread and impact of conspiracy theories and disinformation, a growing climate of severe harassment being experienced by people which is then leading to censorship - or what the Review calls ‘freedom-restricting harassment,’ and the impact of extremist activity on victims and local areas - to name some of these threats. The Khan Review argues that the Government has no strategic approach to deal with these cohesion threats which if not dealt with, will not only undermine social cohesion and our ability to live well together as a diverse nation - it will also lead to a gradual and chronic erosion of our democratic way of life.
Can you explain your suggestion of a new model for social cohesion in layman’s terms?
The Khan Review calls on the Government to create a new model for social cohesion and democratic resilience. This includes establishing a new independent and impartial Office which will help gather data to assess the state of social cohesion across the country and provide training and support for local authorities who are dealing with conflicts and tensions and other measures. Dame Sara also calls on the Government to publish a new Strategy and Action Plan to help promote and protect social cohesion, prevent disruptive activity and help areas respond and recover from conflict and incidents.
Can you discuss some of the recommendations you've put forward in your review and how you believe they can address the challenges we're facing?
The recommendations put forward aim to:
- Improve our understanding of the picture of social cohesion across the country including where social cohesion is weakening so we can be more effective in supporting such areas
- Have a better understanding of how to prevent and respond to conflict and activity that seeks to undermine social cohesion
- Be more effective in responding to incidents that, if not addressed quickly can result in a serious breakdown of social cohesion in different parts of the country.
- Ensure we harness the many benefits social cohesion brings to our country, whether supporting regeneration in local areas, strengthening civic and community engagement and social capital and many other adjacent policy areas.
- There are also recommendations for the Department for Education, policing, local authorities and social media companies to name just a few.
What role do you see for the government, local communities, and individuals in building and preserving social cohesion in the face of these challenges?
Everyone has a responsibility to build and preserve social cohesion. The Government has an important role but so do institutions, public bodies, businesses and social media companies. Civic society’s contribution is also important. We as citizens also have a responsibility to respect pluralism and the rights and freedoms of others. Polling demonstrates that the British public values diversity and beliefs, and it is important that we can disagree and yet still come together. We all have a responsibility to protect social cohesion.
While the Tories have been accused of being Islamophobic, the Labours have been dubbed as antisemitic. Under these circumstances, how do you envision political parties addressing the issues raised in your review, especially in the context of an upcoming general election?
As the Khan Review outlines, the actions and language of political leaders are of utmost importance. They have the ability to reduce tensions, bring people together and promote a positive and inclusive vision for our country where all citizens are treated equally irrespective of our differences, race, religion or identity. However, politicians also have the power to inflame, divide and polarise our society which can undermine social cohesion and fuel disillusionment with democracy. The responsibility that falls on our politicians cannot be overstated. As we head towards a general election, politicians should be careful to avoid engaging in so-called ‘culture wars’ as evidence shows that such tactics polarise society, increase conflict, contribute to disinformation and undermine our ability to live well together.
