
Questioning Canadian Multiculturalism
Debunking the Fragmentation
Critique of Multiculturalism
Essay by Lloyd L. Wong Photos by Myungsook Lee
References
Dib, Kamal, Ian Donaldson and Brittany
Turcotte. 2008. Integration and Identity in Canada: The Importance of
Multicultural Common Spaces. Canadian
Ethnic Studies, 40, no. 1: 161-187.
Corbella, Licia, 2006a. Dangerous
Disconnect, Calgary Sun, 11 June.
Corbella, Licia, 2006b. Sociology Prof
Warns Multiculturalism Creates ¡®Nations within Nation¡¯, Calgary Sun, 19 June.
Hartmann, Douglas and Joseph Gerteis. 2005.
Dealing with Diversity: Mapping Multiculturalism in Sociological Terms. Sociological Theory 23, no. 2: 218-240.
Huntington, Samuel, 1993. The Clash of
Civilizations? Foreign Affairs, 72,
no. 3: 22-49.
Huntington, Samuel, 1996. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking
of World Order. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Jedwab, Jack. 2005. Neither Finding nor
Losing Our Way: The Debate over Canadian Multiculturalism. Canadian Diversity 4 no.1 Winter: 95-102.
Kirkham, Della, 1998. The Reform Party of
Canada: Discourse on Race, Ethnicity and Equality. In Racism & Social Inequality in Canada, ed. V. Satzewich,
243-267. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing.
Kunz, Jean. 2007. Multicultural Canada in
the 21st Century: Harnessing Opportunities and Managing Pressures, Cultural Diversity, http://www.policyresearch.gc.ca/page.asp?pagenm=
rp_mult_bkg [accessed May 11, 2008]
Metropolis. 2007. Metropolis Phase
III (2007-2012) Annexes A-L, Memorandum of Understanding Between Social Sciences
and Humanities Research Council and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, http://canada.metropolis.net/policypriority/citizenship_e.htm
[accessed February 18, 2008]
Wong, Lloyd. 2008. Multiculturalism and
Ethnic Pluralism in Sociology: An Analysis of the Fragmentation Discourse. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 40, no. 1:
11-32.
Read More... DIVERSE special
|
|
Read More... Culture Section
|
|
|
In spite of the lack of evidence of major fragmentation in Canada some of the critics of multiculturalism in Canada still want to believe fragmentation exists so this debate is reduced to the level of debating what is meant by ¡°fragmentation¡±. Other critics of multiculturalism, while acknowledging that there is no current evidence of fragmentation, posit the argument that in the future multiculturalism still allows for the
potential for fragmentation. This position can also easily be debunked.
Those who argue that fragmentation is inevitable basically have a simplistic and naïve view that is one-dimensional. Their position is a dichotomous and binary one where one assumes that you either have 1) assimilation and thus unity and social cohesion; or 2) multiculturalism and thus fragmentation and clash of cultures.
It is easy to move beyond this problematic one-dimensional framework. There are several ways to conceptualize a framework that provides alternative visions of multiculturalism in Canada. For example, there have been ¡°visions of difference¡± developed in the sociological literature that run along two dimensions. One dimension is where there is a cultural basis for social cohesion involving both substantive moral bonds and
procedural norms while another dimension involves ones¡¯ basis for association, either at the individual level or the level of mediating groups. (Hartmann and Gerteis 2005, 222-224). As Figure 1 illustrates there are two other models or visions of multiculturalism aside from the fragmentation position or model. These are cosmopolitanism and interactive pluralism, however, space here does not permit for an elaboration of both so only the latter will be discussed.
While earlier it was mentioned that a significant minority of Canadians are opposed to multiculturalism polls show that more Canadians agree that multiculturalism helps rather than hinders integration. Yet only one-half of Canadians believe that multicultural policy helps people from various backgrounds and religions to fully integrate into Canadian society (Jedwab, 2005, 96). So it makes sense for governments at all levels (municipal, provincial and federal) to promote a vision of multiculturalism in Canada that is integrative and promotes interactive multiculturalism. This approach also means recognizing that diversity and difference does not mean fragmentation and lack of social cohesion. To move to an interactive multicultural vision there needs to be a civic component and this is where the importance of multicultural common
and public spaces should not underestimated. Dib et al (2008, 162) define these common spaces as locations in time and space where multicultural, multi-racial, and multi-religious populations can meet and interact. These spaces are precisely where a lot of interaction among individuals and cultural groups can and will occur and lead to greater social cohesion in Canadian society. These spaces range a full gambit of Canadian life from very formal political institutions to informal voluntary organizations in the
arts, culture, recreation, and sport. Interactive multiculturalism should not only be promoted but perhaps even mandated and, moreover, public funding should be used to facilitate it. For years now Canadian public-policy works have included catch-words and phrases like ¡°two-way street¡±, ¡°inclusive citizenship¡± and ¡°identity¡± (Metropolis 2007, Kunz 2007) so it is now really a question of whether we have the political will to ensure an interactive multiculturalism. (The end)
Previous Page 2 of 2 Home

|
DIVERSE 5th Issue

We are pleased to announce that DIVERSE 5th issue, Summer 2011 has been released.
12 Diversity in Canadian Workplaces What are the obstacles to a better form of ¡°diversity¡± in the workplace?
- Open Door Group
- BC Workplace Diversity Inclusion Awards
6 BC¡¯s Diversity through 30 portraits
ART
2 ThePower of Exchange A Historic Collaboration between Germany¡¯s
Premiere Art Collections and Canada¡¯s First Nations
28 Ezra Kwizera Born in Uganda to Rwandese refugee parents, Canadian Musician and genocide survivor speaks on the art of forgiveness and of adapting to Canadian culture
42 Dana Claxton
The Mustang Suite: Questioning mobility, freedom and autonomy
CULTURE
24 Gung Haggis Fat Choy in Vancouver, BC: The Diversity of Canada
38 Denise Brillon Breaking barriers in the fashion world
HERITAGE
32 Pysanky¡¯s Resurgence
Joan Brander¡¯s contribution to the renaissance in traditional
Ukrainian egg art
OPINIONS
10 Publisher¡¯s Note
27 Benefits of being a bilingual writer
31 Canadians come in all differences
NEWS & INFORMATIONS
35 News Briefs on Multiculturalism
36 Publisher¡¯s Picks
You Can Order Here.
|