The Complex Reality of British Multiculturalism: A Case Study of Indian Food

Indian food in the UK is surrounded by a paradox. On one hand it is praised by politicians and honoured in the form of awards ceremonies dedicated to finding the best curries. On the other hand it has long suffered derogatory treatment relating to its authenticity, quality and even décor of the restaurants. Food does not exist separately from social meaning, it has an unusually close relationship with identity and so when there is a tension in relation to food, there is something to be understood about the interplay of power and identities. Therefore, this relatively unexplored area of research provides an ideal case study into the workings of power and identity that make up modern Britain. By identifying and analysing themes and patterns using Critical Discourse Analysis, this research unpicks the paradox of the treatment and perception of Indian food in the UK. It traces it to the social, cultural and historical discourses embedded in British society, which in turn contributes to a better understanding of state of play when it comes to the sociocultural makeup of the UK. It finds that Indian food has a firm position in British history, culture and politics, but that status is not as easily extended to the people who make up the Indian restaurant industry, with politicians stressing that they are in a process of integrating into British identity, despite the vast majority having lived and worked in the UK most of their lives and many all of their lives and despite political support for British multiculturalism. It highlights the power of representation when it comes to stereotypes and racially based assumptions, with British Bangladeshis and Pakistanis often only being represented in Parliament via debates on immigration, religion or ethnicity. In the media, it finds that even in the present day, colonial era stereotypes are still being reproduced through news articles and reader comments. Finally, it considers the much discussed topic of authenticity in relation to Indian food and, in published news articles as well as reader comments, finds that old cultural assumptions around purity and impurity are invoked to prove the value of one’s own cultural identity in comparison to others in the competitive multicultural reality that is modern Britain. Overall, this research shows that the rosy British multiculturalism often touted by politicians is far from a reality. In fact, it is deeply affected by historical power relations and hierarchical assumptions about the value of different cultural identities. However, uncovering these dynamics leads to an improved self-awareness of the sources of some of these issues. In other words, they are not a ‘given’ of human life, rather they are the result of specific historical developments, the contingent trajectory of culture and power. Therefore, research such as this, which provides an increased awareness of the cultural and historical context of present day struggles, supports Britain to forge a more equal future.