Multiculturalism refers to a city, society, organization, or community that is designed in such a way as to promote cultural pluralism. This is to enable diverse cultures to coexist and interact peacefully and civilly. Below are the examples.
1. Multicultural Ideology
Multiculturalism can be thought of as a system or ideology. An ideology is a concept that the foundation for peace and prosperity is not rigid adherence to a single culture but rather a diversity and tolerance.
2. Multicultural Norms
Societies and cities require mutually reinforcing norms. These can, however, contain standards of mutual respect and tolerance for diversity. For instance, it is customary for people to speak their native language on the train when accompanied by companions who can communicate in that language.
3. Live and Let Live
Tolerance for diverse ethnic groups, peoples, faiths, cultures, and languages is based on the notion of live and let live. This was the fundamental premise of the Habsburg Monarchy, which ruled the German Nation’s Holy Roman Empire from 1440 to 1806 and produced kings or emperors of Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia, Galicia, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Austria-Hungary, and Mexico.
Multiculturalism is not a new concept, as ancient and medieval societies — particularly in Europe — demonstrated.
4. Racial Equality
Multiculturalism promotes equal rights, liberties, and civic responsibilities regardless of one’s race, ethnic origin, religion, or culture.
5. Multicultural Identity
Multiculturalism acknowledges that individuals may have several overlapping cultural identities. For instance, a person who is a member of a nation, ethnic group, or religion, each of which is a component of their identity.
6. Multilingualism
Multilingualism is welcomed. For instance, countries have many official languages. Additionally, nations frequently sponsor initiatives to teach and sustain Indigenous peoples’ languages, as well as to recognize Indigenous languages as vital cultural heritage.
Languages associated with current or historical immigration may be fostered rather than suppressed. For instance, in a community with a sizable Chinese Canadian population, street signs are shown in both English and Mandarin.
7. Multicultural Pragmatism
Multiculturalism is frequently a sensible strategy for developing a national identity and a productive society characterized by civility. Culture is a strong force that defies easy incorporation. As such, it may be more rational to construct a society that embraces this than fight it.
Canada serves as a model for this, as the country is structured to sustain two official languages, indigenous peoples, and considerable amounts of immigration while maintaining a shared Canadian identity based on multiculturalism.
8. Migration
Historically, countries like Australia, Canada, and Singapore have fueled economic expansion by allowing knowledge workers and wealthy individuals to immigrate. According to this model, Australia did not have a recession from 1991 to 2020. Numerous countries with the highest per capita GDP also have significant immigration rates. With decreasing worldwide fertility rates, competition for hardworking, skilled, knowledgeable, and wealthy immigrants will likely intensify. Multiculturalism is possibly the optimum paradigm for bringing qualified manpower to a country, community, or organization.
9. Globalization
Multiculturalism enables a community, city, or organization to compete in a global market. For instance, an American business that employs individuals from hundreds of varied backgrounds may easily navigate foreign marketplaces. Isolating yourself and ensuring that everyone you interact with adheres to your culture does not feel like a recipe for success in an increasingly connected and integrated world.
10. Motley Crew Principle
The motley crew principle is built on the presumption that diversity of backgrounds and opinions improves creativity. This is perhaps why multicultural cities such as New York, London, or Amsterdam are conducive to creative endeavors such as art, cinematography, music, and fashion.
11. Pizza Effect
The pizza effect refers to cultures’ tendency to influence or replicate one another. Each copy is unique, resulting in the emergence of a new culture. For instance, California rolls are an Americanized form of Japanese sushi that gained popularity in Japan. Thus, diversity becomes a stimulus for creating a new culture since immigrant communities eventually form their own distinct culture different from their origins.
12. Anti-racism
Countries, cities, and organizations committed to multiculturalism frequently employ media and education to raise awareness about racism, intolerance, and prejudice.
13. Integration
While multiculturalism safeguards everyone’s right to practice their culture, it does not advocate for division into isolated communities. Nations and cities with a diverse population are more inclined to foster engagement and integration actively. For instance, spreading small public housing units among a city’s districts and neighborhoods rather than establishing massive public housing zones. Similarly, efforts may be undertaken to diversify and integrate politics, government, education, and the commercial sector. This is founded on the premise that the greatest way to encourage mutual tolerance is to get to know one another.
14. Tone at the Top
A multicultural society necessitates leaders that exemplify multicultural principles.
When leaders demonstrate bigotry or ignorance, it acts as a signal for the entire system to follow suit.
15. Multicultural Systems
Multiculturalism is not a meaningless ideology; it has been applied through the establishment of mechanisms that sustain multiple cultures. For instance, the Human Rights Commission of Canada enables anybody to file a complaint about a violation of human rights, which is examined and rectified. This means that government officials, organizations, and individuals can all be held liable for racial harassment or discrimination without resorting to costly litigation.
16. Overarching Culture
Multiculturalism necessitates the existence of an overarching culture that serves as a bridge across cultures, such as a common language, common identity, and common experiences. For instance, a public holiday commemorating the establishment of a multicultural nation.
17. Capital Cultural
Cultural capital is the power to exert influence within a culture. This becomes more complicated in a multicultural setting. For instance, companies in Canada frequently target Chinese Canadians directly and may offer services in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
18. Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the international counterpart to multiculturalism — the concept that a community may thrive on a global scale despite cultural differences.
Supercultures such as business or sport exemplify this.
19. Quality of Life
Multiculturalism enables a high degree of cultural complexity to coexist in the same city and nation. This could be construed as exciting and beneficial to one’s quality of life. For instance, consider a city like New York, which is home to dozens of ethnic communities, each of which contributes to the city’s liveliness.
If you wish to know about the different freedom of movement examples, check out this article by LivingByExample.
Senior Editor
Brielle used to write for a pop culture magazine, where she handled a small “good news” section by the back of the print media. Brian and Cynthia took notice and offered her the editor post upon forming Living By Example . Years later and she now leads our pool of writers across the globe
