The Phenomenon of “Parallel” Societies in Great Britain (Case of the Ethno-Religious Pakistani Community: Postcolonial Discourse and Political Reality in the 21st Century)

This article provides a global overview of the phenomenon of a “parallel society”, which is represented by the ethno-religious Pakistani community of Great Britain, in relation to the white majority. The analysis is focused on the impact of the Pakistani diaspora upon the British economics and political life. It is shown that economic and social well-being of the Pakistanis has increased over time, despite existing presence of discrimination and Islamophobia. An important example of the political success is the case of a second-generation British Pakistani politician, Sadiq Aman Khan, who has become the first Muslim and minority Mayor of London and served from 2016 to the present. It is also analyzed, which impact the Pakistani ethno-confessional community provides upon the modern cultural and religious dynamics within the British society. Cultural and religious spheres are exactly the ones in which the presence of the Pakistani “parallel society” is very well represented and creates certain problems that do not have easy solutions. Much attention is paid to how representatives of the Pakistani “parallel society” influence the domestic and foreign policy of the United Kingdom. The potential of “soft power” of the Pakistani diaspora is analyzed.

Great Britain, Pakistan, parallel society, Islam, Muslims, diaspora, ethno-confessional community, migration, immigrants