Multicultural, Multi-Asian, Multi-Muslim Leicester: Dimensions of Social Complexity, Ethnic Organization and Local Government Interface.

ABSTRACT Although 'multiculturalism' is a terra increasingly employed in social science and in the public sphere, there is a dearth of comparative research and a lack of detailed studies showing the complexity of social groups, the variety of their forms of organization, and their emergent forms of interaction or interface with local government which the terra 'multiculturalism' should ideally entail. Here, set in the context of the British East Midlands city of Leicester, an examination of the makeup, socio-economic position, organizational structure, and nature of government interface surrounding one minority segment is provided to indicate such complexity anti variety and to submit material for further comparative study. Numerous layered and cross-cutting backgrounds, identities, and mobilized groups among Asians are described, as are several significant modes and processes of interaction and political representation, particularly among Muslim citizens. In highlighting the activities of certain individuals, association and umbrella groups representing minorities, together with programmes and undertakings initiated by local government, the importance of minorities having multiple points of interface is stressed by way of proposing more progressive models of multiculturalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]