Efficiency of Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism is a development in ideas related to the social and cultural integration of

immigrant groups, to their descendants and in fact to other forms of cultural diversity as well.
The idea of cultural pluralism and the right of minorities to maintain distinctive cultural
communities through generations had also been discussed as a philosophical principle with
attractive features, but to recognize group rights in formal government policy has only relatively
recently attracted widespread interest at least in the case of immigrant groups.

Does multiculturalism work?


Problems integrating immigrants might provide fuel for the critics of multiculturalism, but the
viability of multiculturalism should not be decided automatically on this basis. Negative
experiences in inter-group relations do not necessarily refute the value of the basic ideas and
precepts of multiculturalism, or whether multiculturalism works. Neither do positive
experiences prove the value of multiculturalism.
The negative experiences in Europe certainly appear to have undermined support for
multiculturalism in the affected countries. However, whether people in various countries with
multicultural policies or practices in place are satisfied with the integration of their immigrant
groups is hardly a good test of the validity of the basic precepts of multiculturalism.

As described some years ago by the sociologist John Rex (1987) who outlined the concept of a
multicultural society, the question is whether the dynamics of inter-ethnic relations actually
occur in the way that the behavioural aspect of multicultural theory suggests that they do. For
example, when members of minority groups maintain strong ties within their minority
community as might be expected in an ideal multicultural community, what are the consequences
for their individual well-being socially or psychologically, or for their relation to the broader
society?
Multiculturalism as theory suggests that the effects are positive, so if this turns out to be
empirically correct, then at least this aspect of the theory is validated. As a consequence, we
might expect policies based on such assumptions to work. By the same token, if the effects are
negative, then to this extent the theory is not valid.
At a minimum, it would then be necessary to ask whether these negative effects arise from some
particular conditions in society, and whether these conditions might be altered by some policy
adjustment so a positive outcome ultimately might be obtained.

Bibliografie :
Reitz G.J.,Breton R, Dion K.K, Dion K.L., Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion.Chapter
1:Assessing Multiculturalism as a Behavioural
Theory: Does Multiculturalism Work? : Philosophy, Policy Effects,
and Behavioral Theory