The growth in immigrant populations in Northern Ireland has led to a series of both positive and negative interpretations. In terms of the positives recent immigration has filled job gaps, aided-wealth creation and brought new skills and talents into the economy. It has also created new cultural exchanges and risk taking by immigrants in terms of new businesses and investments into the economy. Despite this recent evidence shows that many in Northern Ireland see immigration as a burden. This is linked to series of perspectives that have little empirical depth such as 'they take our jobs', 'they are a burden on social housing' and 'they are a drain on the economy'. For Northern Ireland to achieve any place globally it needs to be part of transactions in migration. The starting point is to provide leadership that publicly appreciates the opportunities that immigrants bring.
Our guest speaker, Professor Shirlow (FAcSS), is the Director and Blair Chair at the University of Liverpool's Institute of Irish Studies. He was the Deputy Director of the Institute for Conflict Transformation and Social Justice until 31 July 2015. He is the Independent Chair of the OFMDFM Employers' Guidance on Recruiting People with Conflict-Related Convictions Working Group and a board member of the mental health charity Threshold.
His research interests focus on the themes of political violence, post-conflict transformation, policing and community and the impact of ethno-sectarian reproduction.
He has published more than 80 pieces of work and has served/is serving on the editorial boards of Capital and Class, Irish Political Studies and International Planning Studies. In 2011 his co-authored book Abandoning Historical Conflict? won the PSAI Brian Farell Prize. His work has been funded by the ESRC, Leverhulme, JRCT and EU's Interreg IIC programme.
This event is free to attend. Light refreshments will be available at the start of the session.
To reserve a place on this breakfast briefing please click on the 'Register' button above and complete an online booking form.