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A Defence of Multiculturalism

A Defence of Multiculturalism. Tariq Modood University of Bristol. 2001…. Loss of support in the centre Street confrontations and riots in some Northern cities: The Home Secretary 9/11 and the ‘war on terrorism’

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A Defence of Multiculturalism

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  1. A Defence of Multiculturalism Tariq Modood University of Bristol

  2. 2001….. • Loss of support in the centre • Street confrontations and riots in some Northern cities: • The Home Secretary • 9/11 and the ‘war on terrorism’ So ‘beyond Multiculturalism’: CRE, Prospect, Observer, Guardian, Channel 4 openDemocracy, British Council etc

  3. But if we look at the political theory of multiculturalism in the 1990s (Iris Young, Charles Taylor, Bhikhu Parekh, Will Kymlicka)….. …. And policy statements, especially the Commision on Multi-Ethnic Britain (Parekh Report)…..

  4. The Accomodation of ‘Difference’ • Not a narrow focus on culture, but mainly ‘race’/ethnicity based ‘difference’ • A very specific focus: post-war New Commonwealth immigration and settlement Multiculturalism: the process and outcome of political struggles and negotiations

  5. Equality To this ‘difference’ is applied an expanded concept of Equality: • Liberal equality is one-dimensional for it offers sameness of rights but does not challenge the unequal status • Does not offer a positive conception of difference • a critique of the public/private distinction

  6. Identities So Multiculturalism is the challenging, the dismantling, the remaking of public identities

  7. Four Criticisms • Group Identities boxes people up and are sociologically unsound. • OK, identities are often multiple, and context dependent, but for some people the relatively stable integration of a few key elements is important. • There are ways to politically ‘recognise’ relatively fluid and stable identities.

  8. 2. Nothing much has changed, either because of or despite multiculturalism. • There has been and continues to be social mobility, though of course its limited. • Obviously multiculturalism has had limited influence but the emphasis on the ‘multi’ is critical to progress on equality.

  9. 3. Separatism: ‘parallel lives’ • Not found in any major statement of multiculturalism, rather ‘Integration’ • I personally would go further and emphasise the importance of national identity

  10. 4. Religion and Secularism • public/private distinction consistency • Choice? Lets focus on existing compromises rather than ideological battle-lines; A moderate multiculturalism is compatible with moderate secularism; the problem is radical secularism.

  11. Key Concepts of Multiculturalism • Difference/Identity • Two concepts of Equality: not just equal dignity but also public recognition. • Multi not dualistic • Integration (national identity and moderate secularism).

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