Chapter 9: Multiculturalism
(F) Day of the week: Monday Class: IS301 Created Time: January 18, 2021 2:07 PM Database: Class Notes Database Date: January 18, 2021 2:07 PM Days Till Date: Passed Last Edited Time: July 6, 2021 12:25 AM Type: Presentation Notes
what is multiculturalism?
it is an arena for ideological debates
- “Diversity within Unity”: recognition and respect of different cultural groups that deserve to be protected and strengthened.
Origins
- First appeared in the Black Consciousness Movement (1960s)
- Martin Luther King brought popularity
- Black Power movement rejected peaceful protest, Black Panther Party promoted armed confrontations
Political Assertiveness of minority groups through ethnocultural nationalism
- Number of countries adopted official multiculturalism policies due to pressure
What grew multiculturalism even more?
- New forms of ethnic politics had desire to challenge economic social marginalization and racial oppression.
- US: establishment of ethnic identity help blacks confront whites about their ‘superiority’ or ‘inferiority
How is ethnic politics a vehicle for political liberation?
What is ethnic identity?
- More multicultural trends in international migration
After WW2, Western states allowed in foreign labors to rebuild countries. (esp. Europe and its colonies)
- Hypermobile Planet: during the 90s there’s intensification of cross-border migration across the globe. Why?
- Growing number of refugees: peaked at 18 mil in 1993
- War, ethnic conflicts in post-Cold War
- Collapse of communism created new groups of migrants and ethnic conflicts in former Yugoslavia
- Economic Globalization: more transportation, cheap labor, etc
Most European countries adopted multiculturalism in public policy and monoculturalism can no longer be achieved
Issues with multiculturalism
- Global terrorism and war on terror made multiculturalism a political problem
- The spread of Islamism to western states could lead to ‘clash of civilizations’
- Multicultural politics may legitimize political extremism
Core Themes
cosmopolitanism are ‘World Citizens’ are who contribute to the whole world, not just one nation. They see the whole world as a nation that everyone regardless of their diversity and perspectives, they are equal human beings.
Descriptive
Politics of recognition
Culture and identity
Minority rights
Diversity
Q&A
How is it similar to nationalism?
Both emphasizes rights of minority groups.
- Nations must also strive for unity in diversity
- Nationalism strive to be loyal to their nations while Multiculturalism strive to be loyal to the world.
However, they are different in that:
- Nationalism: working for the benefits of their nations is better than working for the whole world.