Understanding Ethnic Enclaves

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Introduction

In this day and age, many people are exposed to multiple cultures and societies, and that is due to the advancement of technologies and the media, whether it is the food, the clothes, religion, or pop cultures such as films and television shows, we are exposed to new ideologies and beliefs from all around the world. But most cultures are approached with stereotypical racism. Most of the bad images are provided by the media. Many people around the world immigrate to foreign countries in hope of finding refuge, shelter, or even a better future for themselves or their kinships and the next generation. A chance to find peace in a stranger's land, many people do immigrate but cannot cope with loneliness, the mental health of the immigrant may lower, such as the feeling of nervousness, despair, or even depression. That is why many governments in the name of human rights point to one neighborhood or town as a focal point for a specific culture or ethnicity. When a group of people who follow the same culture, religion, or have the same ethnicity occupy one neighborhood or town with the approval of the governments that control the country that is known as ethnic enclaves.

Defining ethnic enclaves

Ethnic enclaves also known as ethnic focal points are defined as a specific group of people that share the same nationalities or ethnic backgrounds that live together in one town in a foreign land. It is also defined as a geographical location where the groups in question spatially congregate socially and economically in a specific foreign location. The enclaves are sometimes used to classify the density of ethnic groups within a particular geographic location. Nowadays, enclaves are considered very common, many developed countries possess multiple ethnic enclaves. The enclave's working processes include providing a sense of security, defense, social support, socioeconomic assistance, and cultural protection; examples would be North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

History

One of the first ethnic enclaves began in the 19th century in the United States Of America, where Irish immigrants continuously moved to the US where they formed and chose specific neighborhoods for the Irish majority. Another example would be post-world war II, where Nazis have moved to South America, and corrupt officials would offer and provide protection, they would move to specific locations with the majority Nazi German ethnicities, these towns do exist until today. In Europe, World War II  has ended many lives, which is why countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Germany were open to immigrants as a new second home, many such as India and China became actively pouring into Europe and nowadays more ethnicities are making their ways looking for better lives such as countries from African and the middle east. With many immigrants coming, governments began to monitor and make sure their lives are better, after all, it is part of human rights, by using specific locations as a focal point for specific ethnicities. This can benefit the immigrants by remaining close to their culture and roots and boosts the country's economy and society.

Discussion-Interview with a Department of the immigration officer

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Why should all countries have ethnic focal Points (Ethnic enclaves)?

Studies have shown that ethnic enclaves show more positive signs rather than negative signs. When it comes to society and human rights, it can be beneficial for individuals, and groups to seek refuge from occurrences such as war or famine, as for governments it is considered a low-cost method of obtaining information on immigrants, lowering the illegal or undocumented immigrants and even be beneficial for countries economies, such as maximizing entrepreneurial activity thus improving individuals income and boosting national income for the country. 

Ethnic enclaves are even a great way of opening people to one another. Unfortunately many media organizations around the world display different views, many people become brainwashed by the media regarding one culture by portraying false or miswritten information, which can create a cycle of racism, prejudice, and stereotypes among people. Having an ethnic focal point can have people introduced to one another and discover different cultures, try new cuisines, learning political, social, and religious views that can open up between them. the same views can be placed upon the foreigner, when a foreigner leaves their homes in a new country the province, they are eventually bound to learn about the culture in which they live, such as learning the law, the culture, and even the language which will open Intercultural communication with locals and the deserved respect.