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M.A. Political Science Part-I 116 Paper VI

M.A. Political Science Part-I Paper VI Semester-II Contemporary Issues in Global

Lesson No. 2.4 Dr. Gaurav Sharma

MULTICULTURALISM Introduction and Background In the post-Cold War world, global politics became multipolar and multi- civilizational. Now the most important distinctions among nations are not ideological, political or economic, but cultural. Today the most important groups of states in the world consist of seven or eight major . Besides Western societies, non-Western societies assert more and more strongly their own cultural values and reject those that the West had forced upon them. As a result, now the deepest, most important and most dangerous conflicts emerge between nations belonging to different cultural entities. Coupled with the processes associated with globalisation, the post cold-war era witnessed an increased international migration in almost all the corners of the globe. As a result of international migration, has become the dominant theory in the last 20-30 years in some countries of Western . It was generally accepted that due to the practice of multiculturalism the different can live peacefully side by side. The theory has become widely spread in the 1970s. Although the USA, an immigrant society, has long been a multicultural society, the cause of multiculturalism in this sense was not taken up until the rise of the black consciousness movement in the 1960s. Australia has been officially committed to multiculturalism since the 1970s, in recognition of its increasing ‘Asianization’. In New Zealand it is linked to recognition of the role of Maori in forging a distinctive national identity. In it is associated with attempts to achieve reconciliation between French speaking Quebec and the English-speaking majority population, and an acknowledgement of the rights of the indigenous peoples. Emergence of the term ‘multiculturalism’ The term ‘multiculturalism’ emerged in the 1960s in Anglophone countries in relation to the cultural needs of non-European migrants. It stands for the political accommodation by the state and/or a dominant group of all minority cultures defined first by reference to race or ethnicity and more controversially by reference to nationality, aboriginality, or religion. Multiculturalism is a political philosophy and a social doctrine, which takes into account diversity and cultural differences, and defines itself as an alternative to assimilation.

M.A. Political Science Part-I 117 Paper VI

Meaning of ‘multiculturalism’ Multiculturalism is a system of beliefs and behaviours that recognizes and respects the presence of all diverse groups in an organization or society, acknowledges and values their socio-cultural differences, and encourages and enables their continued contribution within an inclusive cultural context which empowers all within the organisation or society. Multiculturalism is a term with a range of meanings in the contexts of sociology, political philosophy, and in colloquial use. In sociology and everyday usage, it is a synonym for "pluralism" with the two terms often used interchangeably, for example a in which various ethnic groups collaborate and enter into a dialogue with one another without having to sacrifice their particular identities. It can describe a mixed ethnic community area where multiple cultural traditions exist, or a single country within which they do. Groups associated with an aboriginal and foreigner ethnic groups are often the focus. In reference to sociology, multiculturalism is the end state of either a natural or artificial process (e.g. legally controlled ) and occurs on either a large national scale or a smaller scale within a nation's communities. On a smaller scale this can occur artificially when a jurisdiction is created or expanded by amalgamating areas with two or more different cultures (e.g. French Canada and ). On a large scale, it can occur as a result of either legal or illegal immigration to and from different jurisdictions around the world. Multiculturalism as a political philosophy involves ideologies and policies which vary widely, ranging from the advocacy of equal respect to the various cultures in a society, to policies of promoting the maintenance of , to policies in which people of various ethnic and religious groups are addressed by the authorities as defined by the group to which they belong.

Usage of the term ‘multiculturalism’ Multiculturalism is used as both a descriptive and a normative term. As a descriptive term it refers to cultural diversity arising from the existence within a society of two or more groups whose beliefs and practices generate a distinctive sense of collective identity, usually linked to racial, ethnic or differences. As a normative term, multiculturalism implies a positive endorsement of communal diversity, based either on the right of different cultural groups to respect and recognition, or on the alleged benefits to the larger society of moral and cultural diversity. Multiculturalism, in this sense, acknowledges the importance of beliefs, values and ways of life in establishing self understanding and a sense of self-worth for individuals and groups alike.

M.A. Political Science Part-I 118 Paper VI

There are at least seven different uses of the terms in Europe: (1) First, "multiculturalism" or "multicultural society" are used as indicators of social change, referring to the changing ethnic composition of the population; an allegedly rather homogeneous population has become more heterogeneous. In this sense, "multicultural society" is a descriptive category. (2) Secondly, the terms are used in what might be called a normative-cognitive way. This use recognizes the fact that we (Europe) have become a country of immigration, that we need immigration, at present and in the future, and should accept the social and cultural consequences. (3) A third use describes both an attitude and a norm: multiculturalism as tolerance toward others; as friendly and supportive behaviour toward immigrants; as a liberal and democratic attitude which is based (among other things) on learning from the errors and fatal consequences of nationalism, chauvinism, and ethnic intolerance. (4) Fourthly, multiculturalism is an interpretation of the concept of culture: there are no "pure," original cultures. Each culture has incorporated elements of other cultures; cultures are the result of interaction with one another; culture is continuous process and change. In this sense, the cultures of immigrants are seen as opportunities for the enrichment of one's own culture. (5) Fifth, on a more superficial level, multiculturalism is an attitude that looks upon some aspects of the immigrants' culture (folklore, food, for example) and sees these as possible enrichment of "our" culture. Very often, in a socio-romantic view, the immigrants are viewed as people with qualities that "we have lost" (emotions, stable social relations, spontaneity, etc.); we could learn from them. "The unifying and homogenizing effects of the nation-state are looked upon as an achievement that should not be easily given up." (6) Multiculturalism as a political-constitutional principle is a sixth meaning in the discussion, referring to ethnic identities as a major basis for political and state organization, for the distribution of rights and resources; it means the re-enforcing of ethnic pluralism, ethnic autonomy, and speaks out against or assimilation, against one "state language." (7) A seventh, different meaning: as a critical category, multiculturalism is regarded as a well intended, but illusory concept which overlooks the necessity for a common culture, language, and identification to enable societal and state integration and stability. The unifying and homogenizing effects of the nation-state are looked upon as an achievement that should not be easily given up. Critical Appreciation of ‘multiculturalism’ Perhaps the most significant implication of increased international migration since the final decades of the twentieth century has been that social and cultural

M.A. Political Science Part-I 119 Paper VI diversity has reached such a level that the idea of a return to the mono- of the traditional nation-state has been accepted as impracticable. The tipping point in this respect probably came around the 1990s. More and more societies thus accepted and even embraced their multicultural characters, abandoning the politics of assimilation or strategies of voluntary repatriation. Multiculturalism proclaims the idea of ‘togetherness in difference’, taking particular account of cultural differentiation that is based on race, ethnicity or language. Multiculturalism not only recognizes the fact of cultural diversity, but it holds that such differences should be respected and publicly affirmed. Multiculturalism, however, is a broad term that encompasses a range of ambiguities as well as different approaches to the challenge of diversity. The ambiguity that lies at the heart of multiculturalism is reflected in the tension between, on the one hand, the idea of ethnic belonging and the embrace, even celebration, of diversity on the other. Multicultural theorists highlight the importance of ethnicity as a basis for identity. Multiculturalism can be seen as a form of communitarianism, in that it focuses on the group and not the individual, seeing an individual’s self-worth as being inextricably linked to respect and recognition for the beliefs, values and practices of his or her ethnic community. The advance of multiculturalism has therefore gone hand in hand with campaigns for minority rights, sometimes called ‘special’ or ‘polyethnic’ rights. These are rights that acknowledge and seek to protect a community’s ethnic distinctiveness, and affect matters such as dress, language, schooling and public holidays. In states such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they extend to special representation or territorial rights for indigenous peoples. However, at the same time, multiculturalism proclaims the supposed benefits of cultural mixing and hybridity, the each community derives from living within a society characterized by cultural difference. Cultures can thus learn from and enrich each other, widening cultural opportunities and strengthening intercultural understanding. The result is a kind of ‘mix-and-match’ multiculturalism that operates in tandem with to create deeper levels of social and cultural mixing in modern societies, blurring national distinctiveness in the process. There are competing models of multiculturalism, offering different approaches to how diversity and togetherness can be reconciled and providing rival views on the complex relationship between multiculturalism and nationalism. Liberal multiculturalists tend to stress the importance of civic unity, arguing that diversity can and should be confined to the private sphere, leaving the public sphere as a realm of integration. Moral, cultural and lifestyle choices can thus largely be left to the individual, while common political or civic allegiance help to bind people together. In this view, multiculturalism and nationalism are compatible, even creating a new, possibly twenty-first century model of national identity in the form of multicultural

M.A. Political Science Part-I 120 Paper VI nationalism, which balances cultural diversity against a common citizenship. Insofar as this destroys the link between nationality and ethnicity, it is very clearly based on a form of civic nationalism. Conservatives argue that stable and successful societies must be based on shared values and a common culture, argue that nationalism and multiculturalism are fundamentally incompatible. In this view, human beings are limited and dependent creatures, who are naturally drawn to others similar to themselves but, by the same token, fear or distrust people who are in some way different. Multicultural societies are therefore inherently fractured and conflict-ridden: suspicion, hostility and even violence between different ethnic communities are not products of intolerance, ignorance or social inequality, but are a simple fact of social psychology. Ethnic and cultural diversity are therefore the implacable enemy of national unity and political stability. Multiculturalism is often contrasted to other settlement policies such as social integration, and racial segregation. Multiculturalism has been described as a "salad bowl" and "cultural mosaic". Two different and seemingly inconsistent strategies have developed through different policies and strategies. The first focuses on interaction and communication between different cultures; this approach is also often known as inter-culturalism. The second centers on diversity and cultural uniqueness which can sometimes result in intercultural competition over jobs among other things and may lead to ethnic conflict. Over the past 2-3 decades, multiculturalism has been a controversial issue. Initial assimilation efforts did not work out because it was impossible to merge the culturally distinct arriving masses into , but at the same time integration concepts have failed too since during an integration process the host community itself is changing as well. Thus the process is two-way, however - and this is particularly true in Europe - in many places the majority have not considered this possibility and the minority did not want to become part of the majority either. Then, rejecting the previous two methods, appeared the idea of multiculturalism and proclaimed that all communities are equal and should be given the same respect, because the state is owned by both of the communities and none can expropriate it. Consequently, the same rights have to be granted to them. However, presently this solution method is in crisis as well, even the example state, Canada is trying to prevent further immigration, and many are saying that they would protect the culture of the majority from minority cultures, and clearly the concept of multiculturalism is unable to deal with these voices. At the same time in the 21st century seclusion is not an option anymore, further immigration cannot be prevented, and the masses already present cannot be ignored or their rights cannot

M.A. Political Science Part-I 121 Paper VI be restricted. Multiculturalism has not failed yet, but it must adapt to the changing circumstances.

Question : Critically evaluate Multiculturalism.