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Pluralism and Multiculturalism in America The policy of pluralism and multiculturalism can be successfully examined as policy of integration of the immigrants into the national social government. Globalization and its consequences of the economical, political, social, and cultural character require the search for new interpretations of migration processes as well as new vision of the governmental regulations. World political scientists examine transformation of national government into completely different political body as objective result of new era. Some scholars place high emphasis on necessity to retain national identity of territorial community that is based on an integrated culture, whereas multiculturalism is interpreted as the destructive commencement.
Sociologists analyze the methods that allow easy adaptation to changes, examine classification of tolerant regimes and come to conclusion that the aim of multiculturalism is to give the knowledge about different cultures, and to bring educational aspect of the pluralism into immigrant society. German scientist Rate by the example of Germany tried to prove that the policy of multiculturalism can be interpreted as the attempt of social government to solve problem of institutional discrimination of the immigrants through symbolical recognition of diversity and equality of different cultures (Gordon, 20). However, all of them come to conclusion that it is important to take into account the peculiarities of a certain society during the implementation of multicultural policy. Pluralism and multiculturalism are the problems of the primary importance. There is an active discussion concerning formation of multicultural society. On the one hand, multiculturalism is examined as the globally optimal solution for the problems of separatism, racism, xenophobia, and integration of the immigrants into American society (Bloom, 31), whereas on the other hand there is a proposition to build national relations by the example of imperia, where all ethical groups obey a certain hierarchical structure in order to retain integrity and successful development of the government.
It is very important to examine the policy of pluralism and multiculturalism in the capacity of policy of the immigrants integration into social structures of the government. Modern American government was historically formed as the national social government with high emphasis on democracy and principles of equality (D'Souza, 153). In order to achieve loyalty and obedience, to establish and strengthen its political legitimacy, our government, from one side adhered to strategy of formation of the Unitarian national identity by means of inculcation of peculiar cultural traditions, whereas on the other hand, the government provided the U. S. citizens and the immigrants social aid in order to include them into the functional system of the modern society.
In 1990 s the world community faced the crisis of West European national social government. In its turn, it elevated the problem if integration of immigrants at a political level. The crisis displayed itself in weakening aspects of the social government due to several reasons: Cultural pluralism of the world community. Modern migration processes stipulated transformation of the countries that were traditionally homogenous in cultural aspects, into heterogeneous multicultural societies. It was mostly caused by the immigration processes. The share of ethical minorities in the U.
S. reached 28. 1 % (incl. 12 % Latin Americans) (Gordon, 25). Failures in integration of immigrants were also related to the event of transmigration. Access to internet and low cost of air transportation allowed the immigrants to keep close relation with their countries of origin.
Deterioration of macroeconomic indexes of development. After the World War II, the U. S. government was able to provide the immigrants with chance to participate in social life of the country irrespectively of their ethnic or national origin. From the beginning of 1990 s, the function of social inclusion was weakened mainly due to economic downturn and high unemployment. Under the present terms the U.
S. government faces the following issues: to solve the dilemma of democratic government based on principles of equality that simultaneously excludes immigrants from the equal community of citizens through symbolical recognition of diversity and equality of cultures (Rex, 247), and to allow no fomentation of hatred on race, ethical, or religious basis. In such a way, the ideology and policy of pluralism and multiculturalism can be evidently examined as one of the best solutions. Multiculturalism and pluralism can be considered the official political ideology. The main principles of multiculturalism are as follows: Positive attitude to ethnic and cultural differences. The country acknowledges the fact that cultural diversity enriches the country and makes it more viable.
Right for cultural diversity. All members and groups of the world community have an integral right to preserve and retain their cultural peculiarities; Cultural equi potency and mutual tolerance; Hierarchically structured double (multiple) identity. Every individual may be a member of several communities of his own choice. His choice makes them intersecting. However, the identification of an individual with the government (civil identification) is primary, whereas identification with a community is secondary; The unity is in plurality. Cultural autonomy of a group is acknowledged to the extent it doesnt contradict the basic values of the majority identified with the government (so called selective retention of cultures); Identification of an individual with any ethical cultural group forms a stable self-conscience and contributes to his psychological immunity (Gitlin, 85).
In such a way, it creates the necessary prerequisites for his openness in relation to other ethical cultural groups and in his tolerant attitude to other ethical groups; The right for equal chances. Cultural diversity is supplemented with principle of non-discrimination and equality in the social sphere; Political controllability. Multiculturalism may not be examined as a self-developing phenomenon. On contrary, it required political support and controllability. Implementation of multicultural model of immigrants integration supposes the following: Consistent implementation of program related to immigrant adaptation. For example, there are laws obliging the immigrants to attend language courses, to participate in social programs of immigrant adaptation, etc); Implementation of positive (affirmative action) measures that foresee certain benefits during the employment, advancement, education, etc. ; Official acknowledgement and assistance in celebration of ethical feasts or holidays; To provide the immigrants with a possibility to use native language during the process of education and participation in social and political life.
For example, the U. S. government adopted several laws concerning the status of Spanish language and bilingual education (in 1968 and 1974 correspondingly). In 1974, the Supreme Court of the U. S. decided that the inability to obtain education in native language is unconstitutional and can be the subject to the court examination; Securing tolerant interethnic relations (it concerns prohibition of discrimination based on race, color, ethnic, religion, etc); Simplification of the procedure of acquiring citizenship; The procedure of double citizenship (i.
e. more than 30 world countries acknowledge double citizenship); Amplification of electoral rights for non-citizens during the local elections; Establishment of specialized institutions responsible for prevention of interethnic conflicts, control of anti-discriminatory legislation, etc. ; In spite of multiculturalism positiveness, there are several side effects to be taken into account: The policy aimed to preserve and support certain cultures, may result in unequal attitude to the citizens. The experience of Canada is very remarkable, as far as the immigrants in Canada are divided into a number of groups, where the visible majority enjoys special guardianship. For example, immigrants from Pakistan, India, and China enjoy more privileges than the immigrants of European origin. Besides, class stratification, where the immigrants are divided into groups in conformity with their financial status, is also neglected. The policy of cultural acknowledgement produces ethnic cultural minorities, which demand equality.
It is especially noticeable when the differences are accentuated in order to create privileges. In such conditions it is more profitable to belong to so-called minorities, and, especially the member of the ethnic minority that was historically oppressed. Besides, the policy of expulsion due to national (ethnic) criteria does not compensate the social contradictions. On contrary, it may generate and worsen the ethnic conflicts. The government, according to logics of economical profitability, reduces and suspends the rights and privileges and ethnicities the issue of justice. Institutional discrimination intensifies negative attitude to foreigners and immigrants that is strengthened by mass media and becomes apparent in forms of violence acts on ethnic and religious grounds.
According to Huntington, the implementation of multiculturalism policy may have a destructive impact on the world civilization. The refusal from integral identity and stimulation of cultural diversity may weaken the worlds position. He claims that in case the U. S. will become de-westernized, the West will shrink till the size of Europe. Besides, the implementation of multiculturalism may collide with the following problems: Insufficient financing of the corresponding social programs (i.
e. investments in the sphere of education); Practical retention of discriminatory measures in relation to immigrants, as opposed to official policy of non-discrimination in theory; Numerous conflicts based on racial and ethnic grounds; In such a way, the policy of multiculturalism can be examined as the response of the government to the changes in ethical demographic structure of society, as well as the response to weakening of governmental social function. The acknowledgement of pluralism and multiculturalism strives to reduce cultural conflicts, to compensate a cut in volume of governmental social aid by declaring cultural equality. In general the policy of pluralism and multiculturalism corresponds to the spirit of democracy; however, it may be conjugated with a number of problems: multicultural society is vulnerable, problematically controllable and unpredictable. In order to create the multicultural society, every member of society should become the responsible and tolerant individual. In order to evaluate the policy of pluralism and multiculturalism as the policy of integration of the immigrants into democratic society, it is important to note that the policy if factually directed at inadmissibility of expulsion of the individual from society due to his cultural origin.
The absolute integration of the individual can be successful in case the individual possesses national, legal and personal factors (i. e. the individual is the citizen of the country and can be competitive in the labor market). In this case, the probability of marginalization in relation to the local citizen and the immigrant is theoretically equal. However, in practice the country often faces ethnization of expulsion from social and public life, that can be stipulated by historical, social and economic, national and legal, or cultural factors that had great influence of peculiarities of development of diasporas. The fact of ethnization of the expulsion allows some scholars interpreting mass disorders in American cities with participation of immigrants (usually, expatriates from the Third World countries), and their ghettoization within the limits of concept of collision of the civilizations In such a way, practical inclusion of the immigrants in social and public life in the U.
S. mainly depends on the immigrants themselves. It is stipulated by weakened function of social protection and assistance. At the modern stage of development the policy of pluralism and multiculturalism allows only creating the necessary prerequisites and preconditions for successful inclusion of immigrants into American democratic society. Bibliography Bloom, H. (1987). The Closing of American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Empoverish ed the Souls of Today's Students.
NY. D'Souza, D. (1991). Illiberal Education: The Politics of Race and Sex on Campus. NY. Gitlin, T. (1995). The Twilight of Common Dreams: Why America is Wracked by Culture Wars.
New York. Gordon, A. (1996). Mapping Multiculturalism. Minneapolis, London: University of Minnesota Press. Rex, J. (1995).
Multiculturalism in Europe and America. Nations and Nationalism, 1 (2), pp. 243 - 259.
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