Types of Multiculturalism (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

An introduction to types of multiculturalism

• Multiculturalism is not a single, unified ideology and exists in a number of different forms

• All strands of multiculturalism value cultural diversity, but differ in how difference should be recognised and accommodated

• Types of multiculturalism vary in their views on:

  • individual rights

  • group rights

  • the role of the state

• As a result, multiculturalism can be liberal, pluralist or cosmopolitan

Liberal multiculturalism

• Liberal multiculturalism is drawn from the liberal tradition and emphasises tolerance, individual rights and legal equality within a culturally diverse society

  • They tend to focus on equal individual rights within a culturally diverse society

  • They advocate for equality of legal protection for all citizens regardless of culture

  • They emphasise the freedom of cultural expression without special group privileges being provided

  • They prioritise formal equality over group-differentiated policies

Key thinkers

Taylor

• Argues for equal recognition and equal dignity within legal equality frameworks

Modood

• Encourages institutional recognition while ensuring individual rights and argues for integration provided it is the choice of the individual

Pluralist multiculturalism

• Pluralist multiculturalism argues that multiculturalism and diversity have intrinsic value, as all cultures are valuable in themselves

  • This links to value pluralism which argues that there is no absolute values which are more or less important than others, and therefore all should be valued

  • They emphasise the importance of group-differentiated rights and institutional support as a form of deep diversity

  • They recognise historical inequalities that now therefore require positive policies to overcome

  • They encourage dialogue and negotiation between groups for social cohesion

Key thinkers

Berlin

• Argued for value pluralism

Parekh

• Advocates proactive policies and institutional recognition, as individuals can only be understood within their culture, and all cultures deserve respect

Cosmopolitan multiculturalism

• Cosmopolitan multiculturalism values global citizenship and transnational identities, where individuals can move between cultures and cultural identities

  • This encourages cultural exchange and global solidarity

• Challenges ethnocentric nationalism by promoting universal respect, arguing that people are best understood as individuals and the cultural differences they have will ultimately be overcome through the sharing of identities

The conservative criticism

• Conservative criticism of multiculturalism argues that extensive cultural diversity and differentiated minority rights can undermine social cohesion, shared identity and national unity

• Conservatives generally emphasise national cohesion and shared identity, drawn from historic traditions, and are concerned that multiculturalism will undermine this

• They are sceptical of extensive minority rights that could lead to social fragmentation or resentment

• They often argue for assimilation over diversity in order to encourage social cohesion

• They are concerned that the role of the state necessary to protect minority rights results in a larger state than they would advocate for

Multiculturalism and the four themes

What do multiculturalists think about the four themes?