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Multiculturalism As Transformative?

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Multiculturalism As Transformative? Multiculturalism as Transformative? Paul Gingrich Department of Sociology and Social Studies University of Regina [email protected] Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association, York University, Toronto, May 30, 2006 Abstract The practice of multiculturalism can be a way for a diverse society to transform itself. By providing opportunities for all members of society to participate in social life and employing principles of multiculturalism such as equality, respect, and harmony, a society can become more socially just. Multiculturalism is not always thought of this way, and is often considered a means of preserving cultures, emphasizing difference, and separating people from each other. In this paper, I explore the possibility that multiculturalism provides a means of social transformation in a more socially just direction and provide evidence that some Canadians think of multiculturalism this way. That is, some consider it as a framework for working together to create a society that reduces barriers to participation by ending discriminatory treatment of some members and providing an opportunity for all members of the society to participate more fully in social life. The data I employ come from analysis of a student survey I conducted, from some national surveys, and from official statements about multiculturalism. The frameworks I use for organizing these data are those provided by Nancy Fraser and Cecil Foster. Fraser focuses on the dual issues of redistribution and recognition as distinct, but interlocking, dimensions of social justice. For Fraser, the criterion for a socially just transformation is parity of participation. Cecil Foster explores the possibility that multiculturalism has presented Canada with an opportunity that it should not ignore. Focussing primarily on race, but also on citizenship, Foster argues that multiculturalism could transform Canada into a society that eliminates racial distinction. In the paper I analyze the data in light of the approaches of Fraser and Foster, developing implications for social policy and practice. Acknowledgements and thanks to: Seven hundred plus University of Regina students who provided information about themselves. University of Regina instructors who provided access to classes and student assistants who assisted with interviewing, administration, and analysis of the surveys. Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada for financial support. Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Arts, and Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina. All those involved in providing data for and producing the survey data used in this paper. P. Gingrich, Multiculturalism as Transformative? CSAA Anuual Meeting, York University, May 30, 2006 2 Multiculturalism as Transformative? Multiculturalism is the story of our search for and hopes about social justice. Cecil Foster, 2005, xi. Blending cultures and learning to live together by learning from each other. A web of many cultures formed to create a whole society. Statements of two students about the meaning of multiculturalism. A. Introduction By changing the structure and operation of its institutions and social relationships, the practice of multiculturalism can be a way for a diverse society to transform itself. A society where principles of multiculturalism – equality, respect, harmony, recognition, participation – are practiced will attempt to find ways of integrating members from all backgrounds and cultures, allowing all to participate in social life. While it is difficult to predict the direction this may lead, it is unlikely to leave social relationships and social institutions unchanged. Social interaction on the basis of the principles and practices of multiculturalism can help produce a more socially just outcome, with improved opportunities for all to participate in the life of society. In this paper, I explore the possibility that multiculturalism can provide a means of social transformation in a more socially just direction. Multiculturalism is not always thought of this way, and is often considered a means of preserving cultures, emphasizing difference, and separating people from each other. In the paper, I present evidence that some Canadians think of multiculturalism as a framework for working together to create a society that reduces barriers to participation, ending discriminatory treatment, and providing a opportunity for members of the society to participate more fully in social life. The data I employ come from three sources – a student survey I conducted, national surveys, and federal government statements. In this paper I do not attempt to present a comprehensive view of the diverse meanings and implications of multiculturalism and what they might mean for addressing issues of social justice.1 Rather, I am primarily interested in whether and how a transformative view is expressed in the data The theoretical framework I use for organizing and analyzing the data is provided by Nancy Fraser (Fraser, 1995, 2000; Fraser and Honneth, 2003). Fraser argues that social injustice can be a result of maldistribution in the material sphere of society or misrecognition in the cultural and symbolic sphere. She considers the material and symbolic spheres to be two distinct, but interlocking, dimensions of social life. Achieving social justice involves both redistribution of resources in the material sphere and achieving a form of recognition that allows all members of society to have the status of full partners in social interaction.2 For Fraser, political and social solutions to injustice must move beyond affirming or recognizing difference and involve transforming society by deconstructing the meaning of different and reconstructing the social relationships of distribution and recognition. Her criterion for achieving social justice is parity of participation, or participatory parity (Fraser and Honneth, 2003, 38). P. Gingrich, Multiculturalism as Transformative? CSAA Anuual Meeting, York University, May 30, 2006 3 A second author whose approach I use is that of Cecil Foster (Foster, 2005), who explores the possibility that multiculturalism has presented Canada with an opportunity that it should not ignore. Focussing primarily on race, but also on citizenship, Foster argues that multiculturalism can assist in transforming Canada into a society Where Race Does Not Matter, (the title of Foster’s book) and where “all members of society will be sharing Canada’s culture of sharing” (Foster, 205, 173). In analyzing these issues, I also employ the approach of Bhikhu Parekh, who considers multiculturalism, or a “multiculturalist society” as a normative approach to diversity within a multicultural society (Parekh, 2000, 6). That is, by definition a culturally diverse society is multicultural, while multiculturalism (or multiculturalist society) represents a set of norms and principles governing social relationships and the practices of social institutions. Multiculturalist practices include principles such as respect, equality, harmony, participation, and recognition. In contrast, a society that does not practice multiculturalism may have social practices that encourage discrimination, marginalize or ignore some, create increased inequality, and limit or prevent some members of society from participating fully in social institutions. The Department of Canadian Heritage appears to take this approach in stating that “The Canadian experience has shown that multiculturalism encourages racial and ethnic harmony and cross-cultural understanding, and discourages ghettoization, hatred, discrimination and violence” (Inclusive Citizenship). While no evidence is presented to support this statement, and while no society will ever be able to fully practice all the ideals of multiculturalism, this contrast illustrates the difference between multiculturalism and approaches to social interaction that create misrecognition. The plan of the paper is as follows. In Section B, I summarize the approaches of Fraser and Foster. I then present findings from survey data and federal government statements about multiculturalism and analyze them in the light of the approaches of Fraser and Foster (Section C). Section D provides a summary and conclusion. B. Framework – Fraser and Foster 1. Fraser’s social justice framework Nancy Fraser sets her analysis of recognition within a social justice framework, examining sources of injustice and suggesting means of correcting and overcoming injustices. Historically, injustice was often associated with inequalities in the distribution of resources, resulting in the exploitation of individuals. In this context, struggles for social justice tended to be class conflicts centred in the economic sphere and concerned with ending maldistribution of resources. In the political sphere, reformist solutions include the welfare state and achievements of the trade union movement. Socialism and communism represent radical or revolutionary solutions that transform social institutions and relations in a more comprehensive manner. P. Gingrich, Multiculturalism as Transformative? CSAA Anuual Meeting, York University, May 30, 2006 4 Fraser argues that, in recent years, struggles for redistribution have been eclipsed by struggles associated with recognition of identity. Misrecognition of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, and sexuality has resulted in “institutionalized patterns of cultural values…that prevent one
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