'The Rise and Fall of Multiculturalism: Philosophical Considerations'
- When?
- Monday 15 March 2004, 17:00 to 18:30
- Where?
- 19AD04
- Open to:
- Public, Staff, Students
- Speaker:
- Dr Tahir Abbas
Dr Tahir Abbas (University of Birmingham)
Dr Tahir Abbas
Director, Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Culture , University of Birmingham
This paper explores the ways in which the concept of British multiculturalism has developed and fallen in recent periods. Although a highly sophisticated set of arguments and conceptual discussions in relation to how a society ought manage its diverse populous and with various periods in post-war history that might actually be regarded as successful multiculturalism, in Britain and elsewhere, it is apparent that, in the current climate, the fundamental principles of unity and diversity are not sufficient to challenge sophisticated structural and cultural racisms, specifically in their current forms. This paper argues that British multiculturalism receives severe criticism for its underlying principles, particularly in the post-September 11 era, with some suggesting a return to assimilation. A question asked is where it needs to go from here. This paper explores the changing concept of multiculturalism.
First, I want to explore how the ideology of multiculturalism is positioned in relation to other ideologies concerning different ethnic and cultural groups. Second, I get into the political ideology a little more - of the concept- to see what its concerns are in the current period. Third, I will explore the most recent developments to British multiculturalism by specifically considering the experience of New Labour. Fourth, I argue why I think multiculturalism can be considered to be failing in the current period. Finally, I attempt to state why it still fails as an ideology /an understanding/ a philosophy in relation to different peoples and cultures in societies and some of the salient themes that emerge in this discussion, particulalry in relation to Muslims in Britain.
References
Abbas, Tahir (2004) ‘After 9/11: British South Asian Muslims, Islamophobia, multiculturalism and the state’, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 21(3): 26-28.