Migration from the Global South to the Global North, particularly Europe, has been steadily increasing over the past decade, precipitating successive migration crises. Policymakers, academics, and public figures are engaged in debates regarding the appropriate resolution of these crises and the formulation of policies concerning new arrivals. Key questions include whether measures should be developed to integrate migrants into host communities or whether a multiculturalism policy, which permits each ethnic community to preserve its national, cultural, and religious identity while assimilating the values of the host country, would be more effective. The United Kingdom offers a striking example of the implementation of multiculturalism policy, the consequences of which are assessed ambiguously by both international researchers and the British themselves. It has been acknowledged that many migrants and refugees arriving in the country have not integrated into the new conditions and often do not accept or respect the values of the host country. However, it would be inaccurate to depict Great Britain as a collection of national ghettos, each functioning as a state within a state. The British multicultural society includes people from all continents, with each ethnic minority perceiving its new homeland differently. This variation is largely due to the historical context in which their immigration occurred and the duration of the existence of the respective ethnic diaspora. To form a more accurate understanding of the UK as a country of multiculturalism and assess the effectiveness of this policy, it is essential to study the history of immigration to the British Isles, identify the main migration waves, and determine their characteristics that influenced the level of assimilation of the respective ethnic communities. This study aims to conclude that the policy of multiculturalism can be effective only for those ethnic minorities with either a close historical or cultural connection with the host nation. For peoples without such a connection, this policy only stimulates their alienation, ultimately fueling extremist and nationalist sentiments among both the receiving and arriving parties.
United Kingdom; migration; migration waves; multiculturalism; ethnic minorities; migration policy; Brexit.