Multiculturalism

Question 1

What are the 4 core themes of multiculturalism?

Answer 1

1. Politics of recognition
2. Culture and identity
3. Minority rights
4. Diversity

Question 2

What were the 2 wings of the black politics movement in the USA?

Answer 2

1. Black Power / Black Panther Party
2. Black Muslims / Nation of Islam

Question 3

What is formal equality?

Answer 3

Equality in the law

Question 4

What is the politics of redistribution?

Answer 4

The idea that social factors disadvantage minorities and formal equality is not enough to rectify that

Question 5

What is the politics of recognition?

Answer 5

The idea of respecting or even celebrating cultural differences

Question 6

What were the 3 kinds of minority rights identified by Will Kymlicka?

Answer 6

1. Self-government rights (make their own laws)
2. Polyethnic rights (maintain cultural distinctiveness)
3. Representation rights (minority representation)

Question 7

What is positive discrimination?

Answer 7

Advantages given to minorities to address entrenched socioeconomic inequality

Question 8

What is affirmative action?

Answer 8

Lowering requirements for minorities to get places in education and work

Question 9

What did Regents of the University of California vs Bakke do?

Answer 9

Allowed black students to gain admission into US universities with lower qualifications than white students

Question 10

Why do multiculturalists argue that indigenous peoples are entitled to particular rights?

Answer 10

They inhabited a land before the current occupation

Question 11

What do multiculturalists argue causes extremism?

Answer 11

The denial of cultural recognition

Question 12

How, according to multiculturalists, does diversity promote a tolerant society?

Answer 12

Promotes cultural exchange

Question 13

How is liberalism difference-blind?

Answer 13

People can live as they wish without pressure to live a certain way

Question 14

What is shallow diversity?

Answer 14

When people tolerate only views that are themselves tolerant?

Question 15

What is deep diversity?

Answer 15

When people tolerate all views, even intolerant ones

Question 16

Do liberal multiculturalists place greater importance on individual rights or group cultural rights?

Answer 16

Individual rights

Question 17

What are the 3 strands of multiculturalism?

Answer 17

1. Liberal multiculturalism
2. Pluralist multiculturalism
3. Cosmopolitan multiculturalism

Question 18

What is value pluralism?

Answer 18

Where people disagree on the ends of life as no moral system is better than any other

Question 19

What is particularist multiculturalism?

Answer 19

The belief that cultural diversity happens in a context of unequal power

Question 20

Who are the 5 multiculturalism key thinkers?

Answer 20

1. Tariq Modood
2. Isaiah Berlin
3. Will Kymlicka
4. Charles Taylor
5. Bhikhu Parekh

Question 21

Which 5 things is Isaiah Berlin known for?

Answer 21

1. Value pluralism
2. Post-liberalism - competing sets of values
3. Pluralist multiculturalist
4. Need to go beyond shallow diversity
5. No true liberalism without pluralism

Question 22

Which 4 things is Charles Taylor known for?

Answer 22

1. Supported the politics of recognition (and thus pluralist multiculturalism)
2. Recognition “fulfils a vital human need” and avoids the “crippling self-hatred” that can occur when cultures are not recognised
3. Equalisation of rights and entitlements
4. Supported the politics of difference - acknowledging and celebrating differences

Question 23

Which 3 things is Bhikhu Parekh known for?

Answer 23

1. Rejects universalist liberalism in favour of communitarianism - the idea that an individual’s identity is embedded in their culture
2. Common citizenship is created through cross-cultural dialogue
3. Diversity underpins cohesion rather than undermining it

Question 24

What are Tariq Modood’s 4 distinct approaches to multiculturalism?

Answer 24

1. Assimilation
2. Individualism
3. Multiculturalism
4. Cosmopolitanism

Question 25

Which 3 things is Tariq Modood known for?

Answer 25

1. Strong cultural identity is necessary 2. A national narrative is necessary to support cultural identity 3. 4 approaches to multiculturalism

Question 26

Which 4 things is Will Kymlicka known for?

Answer 26

1. 3 types of minority rights that are needed 2. Minority rights are compatible with liberalism and enable citizenship 3. Minority rights ensure full and equal participation for integrating cultures 4. Criticised by other liberals for departing from universalism

Question 27

In what sense is multiculturalism a form of communitarianism?

Answer 27

It is rooted in an essentially collective view of human nature, emphasising that people are intrinsically shaped by their societies and cultures

Question 28

What are 4 criticisms pluralist multiculturalists have of liberalism?

Answer 28

1. Liberals only endorse cultural beliefs and practices that are compatible with individual freedom and personal autonomy 2. Liberals regard liberal democracy as the only legitimate political system, dismissing rival political forms as oppressive or tyrannical 3. Liberals tend to assert universal values that are applicable to all societies and cultures, which pluralist multiculturalists see as a form of cultural imperialism 4. Liberals have been reluctant to accept that distinctive cultures and religions should be publicly recognised, as they believe such issues belong in the private sphere

Question 29

What are 3 conservative criticisms of multiculturalism?

Answer 29

1. Multiculturalism undermines national identity as shared values and a common culture are essential for a stable and successful society 2. Multiculturalism ignores human imperfection and emphasises difference when people need unity for stability 3. Multiculturalism justifies intolerant and illiberal views and practices

Question 30

What are 3 reasons why multiculturalists support diversity?

Answer 30

1. Diversity guarantees cultural recognition, helping to advance the interests of minority cultural groups 2. Diversity allows cultural groups to celebrate their identity and benefit from public recognition 3. Diversity fosters cross-cultural tolerance and understanding

Question 31

What is each multiculturalist strand's position on diversity?

Answer 31

Liberal: diversity is good so long as it is compatible with liberal values Pluralist: ideological positions are of equal merit and none of them can restrict diversity and difference Cosmopolitan: support diversity in the interest of cultural mixing, which leads to more unity through a global citizenship

Question 32

How is cosmopolitan multiculturalism criticised by other multiculturalists? (2)

Answer 32

1. The "pick and mix" nature creates new identities that detach people from their own cultural group 2. The identities people choose may be seen as inauthentic, weakening any sense of cultural belonging

Question 33

Why might conservative criticisms of multiculturalism be unjustified? (3)

Answer 33

1. Multiculturalists argue that conservatives try to impose their common culture on minority groups 2. Multiculturalists reject the conservative view of human nature 3. Multiculturalists reject the supposed universalism of conservative values

Question 34

What are 3 areas of agreement among multiculturalists regarding the role of the state?

Answer 34

1. The state could be used to promote a single dominant culture 2. The state should protect minority rights in law 3. The state should promote diversity and provide routes of integration

Question 35

What are 2 areas of disagreement among multiculturalists regarding the role of the state?

Answer 35

1. Liberal multiculturalists practice shallow diversity while pluralist multiculturalists practice deep diversity 2. Most multiculturalists believe the state should promote the politics of recognition (Taylor) and protect rights, but pluralist multiculturalists believe the state should be used to address socioeconomic inequality

Question 36

What are 3 areas of agreement among multiculturalists regarding the society they want to create?

Answer 36

1. Oppose assimilation and support integration 2. Promote diverse societies 3. Support minority rights

Question 37

What are 3 areas of disagreement among multiculturalists regarding the society they want to create?

Answer 37

1. Cosmopolitans want individuals to pick and mix from different cultures until cultures dissolve into one single identity 2. Liberals support shallow diversity, pluralists support deep diversity 3. Liberals see supporting minority rights as promoting justice, while pluralists do so as they see cultural diversity as a good in itself

Question 38

Why can multiculturalism be seen as promoting integration? (3)

Answer 38

1. Multiculturalists see recognising difference as promoting integration 2. Multiculturalists support tolerance 3. Multiculturalists promote cross-cultural dialogue

Question 39

Why can multiculturalism be seen as promoting segregation? (3)

Answer 39

1. Multiculturalism emphasises differences 2. Multiculturalists put too much focus on minority rights, undermining integration 3. Multiculturalists reject assimilation

Question 40

What are 3 areas of division among multiculturalists?

Answer 40

1. Shallow vs deep diversity 2. Cosmopolitanism 3. Role of the state

Question 41

What are 3 areas of agreement among all multiculturalists? (3)

Answer 41

1. Oppose assimilation 2. Recognise difference 3. Support minority rights