A Defence of Multiculturalism

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A Defence of Multiculturalism

• Tariq Modood
• University of Bristol

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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

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• 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)..

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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

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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

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Identities

• So Multiculturalism is the challenging, the
  dismantling, the remaking of public identities

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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.

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• 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.

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• 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

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• 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.

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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).