Multiculturalism

POLITICAL SCIENCE

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Multiculturalism

Introduction of Marxism
 Multiculturalism was started as a movement for the protection of rights and liberties of marginalized
section of society in western Liberal countries.

 It is a contemporary political ideology, and it became popular during the 1970s and 1980s.

 In 1971 Canada was the first to officially adopt the principle of Multiculturalism as part of Public Policy.

 Canada’s multicultural policy helped in protecting the minority French speaking community of Quebec
province.

 Multiculturalism as a political ideology originated as a challenge to the idea of individualism in Liberal

Ideology.

Central Arguments of Multiculturalism

1. The idea of Nation-State System (One nation- One culture – One identity), usually results in the dominance
of majority cultural communities and compromises the cultural liberties of minority and marginalized
sections.

2. Cultural distinctiveness of Migrated people is not protected in Liberal democratic societies.

3. The idea of Individualism and universal theory of rights in Liberal democratic system creates a challenge to
cultural diversity in a society.

4. Every Culture has different values and due to these differences, their ideas of Justice, Right and equality
are also different.

5. Multicultural thinkers argue that the Rights and Liberties as well as the public policy of a State should
respect and recognize the cultural differences of the people living within the country.

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Key Components of Multiculturalism

Identity Politics
 Multicultural Thinkers believe that cultural identity like religion, ethnicity, language, gender, caste should
form the basis of political representation, communication, and mobilization in a political system.

 People should participate in political activities like election, law making process as members of a cultural
group to save and protect their cultural values and diversities.

 According to them, democratic concept of power sharing would work better when people of different
identities would get a chance to represent themselves in governance.

Politics of Recognition
 Politics of Recognition is a concept developed by Charles Taylor.

 culture is an intrinsic part of people living in a political society, hence, it’s the responsibility of the state to
recognize the cultural variation.

 Recognition of cultural differences gives the assurance that the law of the land will not be universally
implemented, rather the government will make exceptions according to the cultural differences.

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“Melting Pot” vs “Salad Bowl” (Cultural Mosaic)

“Melting Pot” vs “Salad Bowl” (Cultural Mosaic)

 Multicultural thinkers are against the principle of Melting Pot and support the idea of Salad Bowl for a
society.

 In the Melting pot system, cultural identity of people gets melted down and people of that society
assume a single national identity. For example, in America during the 19th century the government
used to consider citizens only as Americans and not as African American or Indian American.

 In the Salad Bowl system, cultural identity of people remains intact and along with that, people also
assume a national identity, this kind of society can also be called “Cultural Mosaic”. The Salad Bowl
concept stands for the idea of “Unity in Diversity”. For Example, in India, we all are known as Indians,
but along with that we are also Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Tamil, Telugu etc.

Unencumbered Self Encumbered Self

1. Represents a Multicultural and communitarian un-

1. Represent a Liberal understanding of Individual
derstanding of Individual

2. Individual is not burdened by social responsibilities. 2. Individual identity is culturally embedded.

2. Atomized Self 2. Situated Self

3. Rights and liberties should be given to individual by 3. Rights and Liberties should be given according to
State against Society & State. cultural values of society.

4. Individual Rights 4. Group Rights

.
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Differentiated Citizenship
 Will Kymlicka presented this concept in his book “Multicultural Citizenship” (1995).

 It argues in support of assigning groups differentiated rights and liberties in a political system.

 Will Kymlicka suggested 3 types of rights for this purpose :

i. Cultural Right/ Polyethnic Right – Right to practice and profess the culture.

ii. Self-government Rights – Autonomy of governance according to cultural features in a region

for example – Tribal Autonomous council in India.

iii. Special Representation Rights - Reserved seats in legislature for cultural minorities

Challenges and Criticisms

 According to Amy Gutmann, Multicultural theory of right usually creates a hurdle in achieving “Social
Justice”. Cultural practices are not always perfect, cultural values also sometimes become the cause of
injustice and exploitation.

 Feminist thinkers like Martha Nussbaum and Susan Moller Okin have criticized multicultural theory for
promoting the idea of group rights. According to the feminist thinkers most of the culture support
patriarchal mindset, hence cultural autonomy would be a problem for women liberation.

Key Figures in Multiculturalism

I. Isaiah Berlin
 Basic to Berlin’s philosophical stance was the idea that conflicts of values are intrinsic to human life, a
position that has influenced ‘postliberal’ thinking about multiculturalism.

 Book : Four Essays on Liberty.

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II. Will Kymlicka

 He tries to fit in the ideas of cultural diversity, group-differentiated rights, within the theory of Liberalism.
Kymlicka believes that "liberalism also contains a broader account of the relationship between the
individual and society - and, in particular, of the individual's membership in a community and a culture".

 Books: Multicultural Citizenship (1995)

 Multicultural odysseys (2007)

III. Charles Taylor

 Politics of recognition, based on the belief that individuals need to be the object of others. Positive
attitudes and that cultures have their own unique essence.

 Books: Sources of the self (1992)

 Multiculturalism and the Politics of Recognition (1994)

IV. Bhikhu Parekh

 He rejected universalist liberalism and supported the idea of pluralism in society. He supported the idea of
positive discrimination (Reservation) for creating opportunities for cultural minority group. Important
books by him:

 Colour, Culture and Consciousness (1974)

 Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory (2002)

V. James Tully
 He portrayed modern constitutionalism as a form of imperialism that denies indigenous

 Modes of self-government and land appropriation.

 Book: Strange Multiplicity (1995)

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VI. Tariq Modood

 He is critical to the secularization of society. He said “radical secularism” can only be achieved by used
illiberal means. According to him, cultural diversity is important, and he supported the idea of
Multicultural theory against the growing opposition due to radical Islamism and immigration crisis.

 Important books by him:

 Multicultural Politics: Racism, Ethnicity and Muslims in Britain (2005)

 Multiculturalism: A Civic Idea (2007)

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