People in mixed-race areas ‘feel isolated’

People in ethnically mixed areas are less trusting of their neighbours and live a more isolated existence, research from a New Labour “guru” has found.

The greater the diversity, the looser the community bonds and the more withdrawn local residents become, says Robert Putnam, an American academic based at Harvard.

Prof Putnam’s research shows that people who live in such areas retreat into their shells. They spend more time watching television, volunteer less and take little part in community activity.

But where “social capital” is greater, children grow up healthier, safer and better educated. People in more homogeneous communities also have longer, happier lives and democracy and the economy work better.

The approach of Prof Putnam – who is visiting professor at Manchester University – is proving influential with Government ministers.

After presiding over the highest levels of immigration in the country’s history, Labour has begun to show deep concern about its effects. This week, a new forum will start to consider the impact of large-scale immigration on communities.

Prof Putnam says in an article setting out his findings. “Rather, inhabitants of diverse communities tend to withdraw from collective life, to distrust their neighbours regardless of the colour of their skin, to withdraw even from close friends, to expect the worst from their community and its leaders, to volunteer less, give less to charity and work on community projects less often, to register to vote less, to agitate for social reform more, but have less faith that they can make a difference.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/19/nrace119.xml