Maxim Institute - real issues - No 238 1 February 2006 www.maxim.org.nz

Escaping the safety net Young British Muslims becoming more radical Social Justice Forum sparks fresh debate

IN THE NEWS African Union critical of crisis in Darfur Law Commission review of public inquiries

ESCAPING THE SAFETY NET

This week two political leaders emphasised the need to address the damage done by generational welfare dependency. Making it easy to be dependent on the state does no favours to anyone, least of all to recipients. Picking up on this idea, National Party Leader, John Key, announced his determination to address the problem of the "emerging underclass" in his first State of the Nation speech this week.

Mr Key released a harrowing sheet of statistics charting New Zealand's growing social disconnection and identified long-term joblessness and welfare dependency as priorities for action. "Long-term dependency," said Mr Key, "robs people of confidence, motivation and aspiration. Ultimately, it robs people of a stake in their own society." His analysis is spot on, but his diagnosis must be followed by sound policies.

Co-Leader of the Maori Party, Dr Pita Sharples, expressed similar, although separate, sentiments about joblessness and long-term dependency. He said, "We're tired of our people being tied to the benefit strings, it leads nowhere, it gives no hope, it becomes a way of life instead of a stop-gap measure and that's what we're fighting against."

Both leaders have rightly acknowledged that those who are physically and mentally fit and on the unemployment benefit, should have some reciprocal obligations, such as work or training. Both have identified a crucial truth; welfare is not meant to be a "way of life." A social safety net, as Dr Sharples once said in Parliament, is not meant to entangle. Further, both implicitly recognise the importance of productive work in promoting wellbeing, self-respect and achievement.

However, the problems of dependency and social disconnection will not be resolved simply by changes to welfare entitlements. As Mr Key also recognised, real reform will require "turbo-charging" the community and civil society to maintain the social fabric. That requires something of us all.

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YOUNG BRITISH MUSLIMS BECOMING MORE RADICAL

A new survey of British Muslims by a UK think tank suggests that younger Muslims are becoming more radical. Its findings suggest that the busy industry of multiculturalism, the bowdlerisation of history, and the undermining of British identity reinforces a sense of separateness, fosters a victimhood mentality and treats Muslims as a uniform group rather than engaging with them as citizens.

Titled Living Apart Together: British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism, and published by the Policy Exchange, the report finds both an increasing sense of religiosity and an increasing separateness among young Muslims aged 16-24. The report's findings include:

- 28 percent of British Muslims would prefer to live under shari'a, Islamic religious law, rather than British law. (37 percent of 16-24 year olds preferred shari'a, compared to 17 percent of 55+ year olds).

- 36 percent of the younger group believed that a Muslim who converts to another religion should be punished by death, compared to 19 percent of the older group.

- 74 percent of the younger group preferred Muslim women to wear the veil, while only 28 percent of 55+ year olds held this view.

The growing sense of alienation among young Muslims is partly fostered, the report suggests, by the rise of group identity politics and the refusal of governments over recent decades to affirm and foster British identity and the touchstones of British citizenship. Muslims are not identical, and treating them as victims and as an interest group to be appeased not only ignores reality, it fosters a sense of separateness.

In a society of many cultures, we must strike the right balance acknowledging and appreciating the cultural differences that exist, and affirming the common bonds of citizenship and allegiance that hold us together. A failure to do this destroys the social fabric and the common good. Indeed, as Britain is increasingly recognising, it is difficult to have any notion of a common good or a common destiny at all. There is a lesson for New Zealand in this.

Read the report, Living Apart Together: British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism

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SOCIAL JUSTICE FORUM SPARKS FRESH DEBATE

Last Sunday, over 4,000 people filled the Palladium at Parachute Music Festival. They came to hear MPs from five major political parties put forward their views on social justice; what it looks like in practice and how we best work for it in New Zealand.

The Parachute Festival is a unique event on New Zealand's musical calendar, not least because there is a strong focus on encouraging young people to become more aware of the challenges facing society, and to be more active in responding to them. As Prime News reported, ". . . there is a more serious side to this concert, social justice at the top of the agenda."

The MPs answered several pre-prepared questions designed to unpack their party's unique approach to social justice, and in particular, where they believe responsibility for social justice lies. Despite being given a relatively blank canvas, the parties' underpinning ideas came through loud and clear; the big difference in their approach to social justice was determined by their view of the role and scope of government.

Sue Bradford articulated the common theme that "social justice is about everyone in our country getting a fair chance at life." From the other side of the political spectrum, Bill English described social justice as being about, "respect for people's essential humanity and a belief that they can be responsible for their choices."

The MPs also had to think on their feet when fielding surprise questions from each other in the fourth round, aptly named, "Question Time." Key policy issues including early childhood education, tax cuts and parental choice in education were the focus of debate and drew strong reactions from the audience.

Maxim Institute thanks all the MPs who took part and also Parachute for their willingness to encourage young people to engage with key political ideas and leaders.

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IN THE NEWS

AFRICAN UNION CRITICAL OF CRISIS IN DARFUR

The African Union turned down Sudan's bid for its chairmanship this week, citing Sudan's failure to address the crisis in Darfur. Over two million people have been displaced from their homes due to the conflict in Darfur, a region of Western Sudan, in which government-backed militias are wreaking havoc. Terrible atrocities and crimes against humanity are being committed in the region, and the African Union has wisely appointed Ghana to the chair instead of a Sudanese government which supports human rights abuses. An AU peacekeeping force has had limited success in stemming the violence, but attacks on civilians continue.

Read a Human Rights Watch report on ethnic cleansing in Darfur

Read Q & A: Crisis in Darfur

LAW COMMISSION REVIEW OF PUBLIC INQUIRIES

The Law Commission is calling for responses to its discussion paper on the role of public inquiries in New Zealand. The Commission is reviewing the law relating to commissions of inquiry, royal commissions and ministerial inquiries such as the inquiry into Taito Phillip Field initiated by the Prime Minister. "Inquiries," says the Commission, "are the most powerful inquisitorial and public tool available to ministers." Responses to the discussion paper are due by 2 March 2007.

Read the discussion paper

TALKING POINT

"Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence."

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)

ENDS

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