Multiculturalism is a political or social philosophy that promotes cultural diversity—that is, the existence of a variety of cultures in a particular group. It is based on the idea of mutual respect for differences rather than a striving for sameness. Multiculturalism also encourages consideration of the contributions that immigrants from various ethnic groups have made to their adopted country.
The term multiculturalism was first used in 1957 to describe the mixture of cultures in Switzerland. Since then, it has been widely used to describe societies made up of different ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic (language) groups. The term has been in wide use in the social sciences, humanities, and mass media since the mid-1900’s.
In earlier times, the goal for many multiethnic and multiracial societies was assimilation. Assimilation is the process through which one social and cultural group becomes part of another social and cultural group. In multicultural societies, individuals become part of a dominant culture but remain part of an ethnic one as well.
Since the 1970’s, large-scale migration to North America, western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand has taken place. Attitudes in these areas began to move away from the assimilationist tendencies of the past. But multiculturalism poses challenges to ideas about national unity and civic integration. Integration is the process by which immigrants adapt to a new society.
In the United States.
The United States has a diverse ethnic, racial, and religious population. Since the mid-1800’s, the country has been a destination for wave after wave of immigrants from Europe and, increasingly, from other regions of the world. These include Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Because of its history of official policies that support freedom of conscience, participation in democracy, and the right to peaceful assembly, the United States reflects many of the ideas that characterize multiculturalism.
Although many people in the United States consider the nation to be multicultural, the country has no official charter or policy regarding multiculturalism. The term has been used as a matter of policy in large American cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City, mainly in terms of public education. In this sense, multiculturalism has much to do with bilingualism (the ability to speak two languages) as well as with the learning of and appreciation for history and culture that is not focused on Western European heritage alone.
In Canada.
Canada’s diversity is reflected in its population of Indigenous (native) peoples and in its official bilingualism. Indigenous peoples in Canada include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (people with both First Nations and European ancestry). The Canadian government recognizes both English and French as official languages. In addition, Canada has one of the world’s highest immigration rates relative to the size of its population.
Canada’s government officially favors multiculturalism as a pillar of its democratic structure. The Canadian government made multiculturalism a part of its official policy in 1971. Since then, Canada has recognized the country’s multicultural heritage in its constitution, and its provinces have adopted their own policies on multiculturalism.
In Canada, multiculturalism has led to high rates of naturalization—that is, the legal process by which a person becomes a citizen of an adopted country. Canadians do not face pressure to assimilate and give up their culture of origin. The government’s position is that recent arrivals share the basic values of democracy with all other Canadians who came before them. The government also asserts that recent advances in technology have made international communications vital. Therefore, Canadians who speak multiple languages and understand multiple cultures make it easier for Canada to participate globally in the areas of education, trade, and diplomacy.
In Europe.
More people migrate to Europe—especially to the countries of the European Union (EU)—than to any other area. The EU is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. Since the 1970’s, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have accepted large numbers of migrants. These immigrants have included millions of refugees, asylum seekers, and impoverished people from parts of eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Refugees are immigrants who flee their country because of persecution, war, or such disasters as famines or epidemics. Asylum is shelter and protection given by a nation to a person who is fleeing another nation.
However, as the number of migrants has increased, some EU member countries, including France and Germany, have sought ways to restrict immigration. Unlike many Americans, Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders, Europeans do not generally regard their countries as the ethnic salad bowls that countries founded as havens for immigrants do. In the salad bowl model, different cultural or ethnic groups are “tossed” together in such a way that they mix, but each group keeps its unique identity.
In Australia and New Zealand.
Australia considers itself a multicultural nation. Since the 1950’s, immigrants from many countries have made Australia’s population more mixed than those of other regions, and the people’s way of life has been more varied. However, from about 1900 until about 1970, Australia largely practiced a White Australia policy. This policy attempted to limit immigration by non-Europeans, especially people from South Asia. Since about 1970, Australia has become more inclusive toward its own Indigenous peoples and immigrants from all over the world. By the early 2010’s, about 30 percent of the Australian population had been born overseas.
In 1989, a policy statement known as the National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia became the legal basis for a nondiscriminatory Australia. The document emphasized mutual respect and tolerance for Australians’ ethnic and religious differences. It was based on the understanding that such values helped make the country culturally and economically creative and vibrant.
New Zealand has developed its own sense of national identity as a country of both British and Polynesian heritage. New Zealand was first settled by Polynesians from the eastern Pacific whose descendants are called Māori. In the early 1800’s, immigrants to New Zealand were mostly of English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish descent. Later, Asians and Africans also came to live in New Zealand. By the early 2010’s, about a quarter of New Zealand’s people were immigrants. New Zealanders generally do not see any conflict in immigrants retaining their cultural heritage as citizens of the country.
Criticisms of multiculturalism
include perceptions and assertions that this model for national development emphasizes foreign heritages and cultures, and fragments national identity and unity. Some critics believe that multiculturalism prevents diverse, foreign-born people from integrating into the culture of their adopted country. Others who disapprove of the philosophy of multiculturalism believe that some members of newly arrived ethnic and other groups do not respect or understand the privileges and benefits they enjoy in their new country. Some critics also hold that multiculturalism discourages immigrants from learning the official language of their adopted country—especially English, but other European languages as well.
In the early 2010’s, after the worldwide economic downturn of 2008-2009, critics of immigration became more outspoken in some countries. The advantages and disadvantages of multiculturalism became a heated topic of political and social debate.
