Multiculturalism

Most countries of the world today have people of different religions, races and cultures living
within their boundaries. How can these diverse communities of people be treated as equal
within the framework of democracy? This is the question that multiculturalism poses and
seeks to answer.

Multiculturalism aims at minimizing discrimination of minority cultural communities to

promote the ideal of non-discrimination. As more and more countries became democratic,
they set aside discrimination based upon religion, gender, caste race. Multiculturalism
contributes to this ongoing project of democratization by pointing to a site discrimination that
received little attention before, namely, cultural identity.

Meaning and natures

Multiculturalism is the recognition and acceptance of cultural diversity within a society. It

acknowledges that different cultural groups have the right to maintain their distinct identities,
practices, and beliefs while living together harmoniously.

Multiculturalism talks about state’s capacity to effectively and efficiently deal with cultural
plurality within its sovereign borders. The central theme within multiculturalism is that
individual identity is culturally embedded, in the sense that people largely derive their
understanding of the world and their framework of moral beliefs from the culture in which
they live and develop. Distinctive cultures therefore deserve to be protected or strengthened,
particularly when they belong to minority or vulnerable groups.

To eliminate culture-related discrimination in liberal democratic countries, multiculturalism

recommends policies that enhance cultural diversity in society. Protecting and promoting
cultural diversity is a primary value within multiculturalism and it strongly favors them for
the sake of

i) minimizing minority discrimination;

ii) creating conditions in which minority cultures survive and flourish.

Multiculturalism advocates that the presence of several cultures contributes to the "overall'
richness of society.

Development of Multiculturalism

One of the most powerful factors underpinning the global significance of identity politics has
been the growth of international migration, particularly since the 1950s. The USA, as an
immigrant society, has long been a multicultural society, but multiculturalism, in present
sense, came into being with rise of the black consciousness movement or ‘black politics’ in
the 1960s. The origin of the Black Nationalism dates back to 20th century and emergence of
‘Back to Africa’ movement inspired by figures like Marcus Garvey. However, this movement
gained greater prominence in 1960s with an upsurge in both reformist and revolutionary
wings of the movement. In its reformist form, the movement took form of a struggle for equal
civil rights in the USA under the leadership of Martin Luther King. The strategy of
nonviolent civil disobedience was nevertheless rejected by Black Panther movement, which
supported black separatism under the leadership of Black Panther Party, founded in 1966.
Black Panther Party promoted use of armed confrontation. Late 1960s and early 1970s
witnessed growing political assertiveness among minority groups, sometimes expressed
through ethno cultural nationalism, in many parts Europe and elsewhere in the North
America.

On the other hand, ethnic minority communities developed in many European countries as a
result of the end of empire and of deliberate attempts by governments to recruit workers from
abroad to help in the process of post-war reconstruction. Since 1980s, however, cross border
migration has significantly intensified. Consequently, a growing number of countries have
come to accept multi-ethnic, multi-religious or multicultural character of their population and
attempted reconcile cultural diversity and identity-related difference with civic and political
cohesion.

Australia has been officially committed to multiculturalism since the 1970s, in recognition of
its increasing ‘Asianization’. In New Zealand it is linked to a recognition of the role of Maori
culture in forging a distinctive national identity. In Canada 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 Inuit peoples. In the UK
and in much of western Europe, multiculturalism recognizes the existence of significant black
and Asian communities, and has tried to break down barriers to their full participation in
society. Attempts to reconcile citizenship with cultural diversity have usually focused upon
the issue of minority rights, special group-specific measures for accommodating national and
ethnic differences.

Characteristics of Multiculturalism

1. Multiculturalism reflects, most basically, a positive endorsement of communal diversity,

usually arising from racial, ethnic and language differences. As such, multiculturalism is
more a distinctive political stance than a coherent and programme-based political
doctrine.
2. Multiculturalism upholds the idea that various cultures can coexist and contribute to the
broader society. It rejects the notion of assimilation, where minority cultures are expected
to conform to the dominant culture.
3. Multiculturalism begins with the assumption that minority cultural groups are
disadvantaged in relation to majority, as state policies embedded in majority culture do
not take into account culture specific needs of minorities.
4. For the individual, multiculturalism recognizes that human beings are culturally
embedded and derive their understanding of the world and sense of their personal identity
from the culture in which they live and develop.
5. It believes that distinctive cultures deserve to be protected or strengthened, particularly
when they belong to minority or vulnerable groups. This leads to the idea of minority or
 multicultural rights, including the right to representation, the right of respect for cultural,
and usually religious, practices that may otherwise by prohibited by law or regulations,
and the right to recognition through the preservation of symbols that help to promote
collective esteem.
6. For society, multiculturalism brings the benefits of diversity: a vibrancy and richness that
stems from cultural interplay and encourages tolerance and respect for other cultures and
religions, while at the same time strengthening insight into one’s own culture
7. Multicultural theorists consider recognition of different cultural identities as first step
towards recognition of specific needs of minorities.

Critical Evaluation

However, multiculturalism and the doctrine of minority rights have also attracted criticism.
1. At the core of these criticisms is the concern that multiculturalism emphasizes divisions
among people rather than what unites them: particularism displaces universalism;
minority rights take precedence over majority interests; and the stress upon ethnicity
weakens national or civic unity.
2. Multiculturalism can sometimes lead to identity politics, where individuals or groups
prioritize their cultural or ethnic identity over their national identity. This can lead to
division and conflict.
3. Multiculturalism’s model of group identity pays insufficient attention to diversity within
cultural or religious groups and risks defining people on the basis of group membership
alone.
4. Conservatives believe that multicultural societies are, by their nature, fractured and
conflict- ridden. As society is a fragile and organic entity, successful and stable societies
must be underpinned by shared values and a common culture.
5. Since liberalism is based upon respect for individual autonomy, liberals find it difficult to
extend toleration to cultural practices. In such circumstances, liberals place respect for
human rights and civil liberties above a concern about group identity and traditional
values.

Despite the above, Multiculturalism addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by
cultural diversity within societies. It raises important questions about identity, citizenship,
and social cohesion, and its impact is felt in various aspects of political life, from policy
development to electoral politics.