Julia Scheffler European Studies 5th semester Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg Germany

1. Presentation on: John Rex (2001) “The concept of a multicultural society“ in Guibernau, Montserrat and Rex, John (eds.): The Ethnicity reader, Nationalism, Multiculturalism and Migration, Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, pp. 205-220 Julia Scheffler European Studies 5th semester Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg Germany

2. John Rex • Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 5th March 1925. • Founding Professor of Sociology in the University of Warwick from 1970 to 1984. Professor Emeritus from 1989 onwards. • Director of the Social Science Research Council’s Research Unit on Ethnic Relations at Aston University from 1984 to 1988. • Associate Director of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations 1988 to 1989. • Visiting Professor in the University of Toronto 1973 to 1974 and in New York University 1995, in the University of Capetown 1996. • Member of the UNESCO International Experts Committee on Racism and Race Prejudice 1967 and President of the International Sociological Association’s Research Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities 1974 to 1982.

3. His best known books are: Key Problems of Sociological Theory (1964) Race Relations in Sociological Theory (1970) Race and Ethnicity (1986). • His most recent book is: Ethnic Minorities in the Modern Nation State:Working Paper in the Theory of Multi-Culturalism and Political Integration (1996).

4. “My biography tells much of my academic career and I do believe in the idea of an objective sociology. Nonetheless my life has been one of continuous political engagement.” (http://www.john-rex.com/main/aboutme.php) Source: http://www.john-rex.com

5. Structure of the Text • Value orientations in Social Science • Plural and Multicultural Societies • The Institutions of the Public Domain • The Boundaries of the Public Domain • Education and the Public and Private Domains • The Structures of the Private Domain • Conflict and Compromise in the Multicultural Society • Summary: The Essentials of a Multicultural Society

6. Main Quotation: • “Thus multiculturalism in the modern world involves on the one hand the acceptance of a single culture and a single set of individual rights governing the public domain and a variety of folk cultures in the private domestic and communal domains.” (p. 210)

7. Argumentation • Begins with sociology • Rex tries to develop an ideal of a multicultural society • Main feature: unitary society in public domain but diversity in private/communal matters (p. 208) • Explains what is meant by public domain: law, politics and economy

8. The Boundaries of Public Domain are: family, morality and religion • The special role of Education: 3 functions: -selecting individuals -transmitting of important skills -transmitting of moral values --> this conflicts with private domain • The clash of Values: society which wants equality of opportunity and toleration of cultural diversity has to deal with this tension!

9. His practical proposals for Britain: • Schools should be agent of public domain  concerned with selection, transmission of skills and of civic morality community should control education concerning language, religion and family affairs – get funded by state!! • Alternatively: education out of public domain- intra-communal matter • Social welfare/social work: training of already sensitive minority people in professional standards (give it to community!) p. 216

10. Structure of Private Domain • includes kinship, a network of associations and a system of religious organization and belief • this structure provides home and a source of identity for individuals

11. Conflict and Compromise in the multicultural Society • minority structures may not fit into status quo but are not dangerous! • British culture not unitary – civic culture includes notion of conflict!  multicultural society must be anti-racist society because only belief system which has to become disqualified has to be the inequality of opportunity !

12. Own experiences: • Unsuccessful policy of Germany • No dialogue, ghettoisation • Murders within family because of „family honor“ • Is it good to remain private sphere untouched? • Is it not necessary that also the members of ethnic minorities can decide freely?

13. Questions? • ”Indeed it can be said that the whole system [of arranged marriages] gives the bride more rights than does the notion of marriage based upon random selection and romantic love” (p. 216f). • Where is the border between private and public? • How to teach majority in minority rights? • Are state-independent schools desirable?

14. Textual Connection • Kenan Malik: “the idea of a plural or multicultural society is (...) a deeply ambiguous one.” (p. 170) • Concept of Multiculturalism: “overestimates the homogeneity and autonomy of the various ethnic groups and underestimates the degree to which all groups are reciprocally implicated in the creation of cultural forms within a common framework (...).” (p.177)

15. Implications • Rex developed a useful model in contrast to that of pluralism • Politicians should always explain what they are talking about • Special role of education! • But he is pessimistic about his model of living peacefully and with same opportunity of equality together. • What do you think???