The modern ‘problem of identity’ is how to construct an identity and keep it solid and stable.
Conservative, liberal, pluralist, commercial, corporate, and critical or 'revolutionary' multiculturalism, each with different approaches to managing cultural diversity.
A diasporic identity implies an emphasis on conservation and re-creation of the ancestral culture, while also acknowledging that change and adaptation inevitably take place in a new environment.
Identity Politics refers to political positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which people identify, emphasizing the importance of cultural and social communities in realizing individual humanity.
Multiculturalism encompasses the characteristics of a multicultural society and refers to the policies or processes that promote the coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a society.
Minority members may feel that their cultural distinctiveness is not respected and that their identities are threatened when the state emphasizes equal rights and duties.
Racialisation is the process of reducing and hardening fluid racial categories along a single spectrum, often leading to simplified black-white distinctions.
A central controversy in political and social philosophy where communitarians emphasize the importance of community belonging, while liberals prioritize individual rights and autonomy.
Multi-ethnicity encompasses both continuity and stable collective identities associated with diaspora, as well as change and individual strategies linked to hybridity, suggesting a complex interplay between these concepts.
Baumann discusses the native meanings of 'community' and its relationship to 'culture', revealing both kinship to anthropological concepts and significant variations within Southall.
Shared rules and principles in multi-ethnic societies are necessary to avoid systematic differential treatment and power abuse by dominant groups.
Contemporary issues such as racism, discrimination, religious rights, arranged marriages, refugee policies, and human rights are directly influenced by these philosophical discussions.
The normative dimension refers to the ethical and moral considerations that influence the researcher's perspective and engagement in multicultural studies, which are often tied to their political and moral convictions.
The dominant discourse is reproduced chiefly through the media and public sector, equating ethnicity with community and culture, suggesting that each ethnic group comprises a community with a shared culture.
Demotic discourse is more flexible and complex, recognizing the situational and multifaceted nature of individual identification, and contesting the terms of the dominant discourse.
Transnationalism refers to the phenomenon where individuals maintain connections and commitments to their country of origin while living in another country, often involving political engagement across borders.
Intermediate identity refers to the dual identity of refugees who adapt to their host country while maintaining ties to their homeland, often leading to participation in two national political systems.
Anxieties about cultural differences, such as the reluctance of Muslims to accept equal rights for women, are based on different principles of social classification and ideological persuasions, distinct from racial views.
The postmodern ‘problem of identity’ is primarily how to avoid fixation and keep the options open.
Multicultural policies have often failed to prevent social inequalities and tensions between groups, leading to counter-reactions and the emergence of movements like neo-Nazism.
The reservation system in India allocates quotas for low castes in public service and education to address historical inequalities.
Bhikhu Parekh attempts to reconcile liberal individualism with recognition of cultural difference, presenting a complex view of multi-ethnic society where Britain is seen as both a community of citizens and a community of communities.
The hijab holds cultural significance for its wearer, representing religious adherence, and has been a focal point of public debates regarding individual rights and cultural expression in various European countries.
Anthropologists engage in cultural controversies through scholarly research, policy advice, and contributions to mainstream public debate, often focusing on cultural differences and their implications.
The relationship to the majority or mainstream society often involves power discrepancies and ethnic discrimination, highlighting how minority groups interact with and are affected by the dominant culture.
The term 'Asian' began as a dominant classificatory term in the colonial service with no experiential relevance but has gained significance for many immigrants of Asian descent, having different meanings in Britain and the USA.
The term 'noble savages' refers to the external definition imposed on Aboriginals, which undermines their self-determination and ability to negotiate their identity on their own terms.
The main problem is how to reconcile liberal values with anti-liberal views, such as religious authoritarianism, while maintaining a commitment to human rights.
Education is seen as a central battlefield because it shapes national identity and must adapt to accommodate the demands for both equality and cultural difference in a diverse society.
The middle ground combines respect for cultural differences with a recognition of universal rights, acknowledging both individual and community needs.
Cosmopolitanism refers to the idea of being a citizen of the world, embracing a plurality of cultures and identities, often seen in societies undergoing rapid social and cultural change.
Caste and kinship networks are crucial for recruiting Tamil refugees to support the independence movement, as they facilitate connections and mobilization for political causes.
Endorsements of cultural diversity, such as the recognition of Chicken Tikka Massala as a British national dish, reflect a broader acceptance of diverse cultural contributions.
The primary interest of Tamils in Norway lies in furthering the cause of independence in Sri Lanka, rather than focusing on integration into Norwegian society.
Kymlicka distinguishes between 'nations' (territorial, indigenous minorities) who may claim cultural and territorial autonomy, and immigrant minorities who seek integration and adaptation to the majority culture.
The belief that everyone living in the same country should adopt essentially the same culture, promoting cultural homogeneity.
'Super-diversity' refers to the complex and varied nature of multicultural societies, characterized by a wide range of ethnicities, cultures, and identities that create a dynamic social landscape.
When the dominant group emphasizes cultural differences positively, minority members may feel actively discriminated against, as seen in historical contexts like apartheid in South Africa.
'Frontier zones' are created by alternative identifications such as blackness, feminism, and multiculturalist ideologies, which soften ethnic boundaries and allow for more fluid identities.
Segregation, assimilation, and integration are concepts used to describe minority situations, but they do not adequately capture the complexities of social dynamics in modern societies, where outcomes are not necessarily the eradication of difference.
Post-traditional societies are modern societies where adherence to tradition must be actively chosen and defended, often under pressure from state and public opinion.
De-ethnicisation is a tendency in rapidly changing societies where ethnic identities become less pronounced, often running parallel with increased ethnic entrenchment.
In Fiji and Malaysia, political tensions arise from economic disparities between indigenous populations and immigrant descendants, leading to discriminatory laws favoring 'natives'.
Stephen Steinberg critiqued American ethnicity studies by highlighting that European immigrants were pressured to conform to majority culture, while racial minorities were told they would always remain separate, regardless of their similarities to the majority.
The Rushdie affair refers to the public burning of Salman Rushdie’s novel 'The Satanic Verses' in Bradford in 1988, which led to a fatwa against him and heightened tensions between minority and majority communities.
A perspective that advocates for the recognition and celebration of a variety of cultural values, rather than a single set of values dominating society.
Identity Politics refers to the political approach that focuses on the interests and perspectives of groups with which people identify, particularly in relation to cultural, ethnic, or religious communities.
Ethnicity refers to the social construction of groups based on shared cultural traits, such as migration histories, linguistic backgrounds, and customs, which can lead to discrimination and the claiming of rights.
Nationalism and migration may be seen as opposing processes, with contradictions between the notion of discrete territoriality in nationalism and the transgressive fact of migration, which can reinvigorate and rephrase national identity.
The négritude movement represents a cultural and political response by black intellectuals and artists to colonialism, emphasizing black identity and heritage.
The Gellner–Anderson view of nationalism struggles to reconcile with the growing ethnic diversity and the persistence of 'unmeltable ethnics' in contemporary society.
The chapter explores the full complexity of contemporary polyethnic societies from the point of view of social cohesion and minority rights.
The chapter interrogates notions of community, culture, diaspora, and national belonging in relation to multiculturalism versus individual rights and liberalism.
Research on cultural complexity in Western societies has intensified considerably since the late 1980s.
The paradox of multiculturalism refers to the contradiction where, in some societies, ethnic diversity is encouraged, yet individuals may be pressured to adopt ethnic labels and may experience differential treatment based on presumed cultural distinctiveness, leading to political contention over equal and differential treatment of minorities.
Neo-racism refers to new kinds of distinctions based on cultural or religious differences rather than assumed biological differences, often described in terms of racialisation.
The term 'diaspora' originally designated Jews in Europe and suggests that a group's primary identity connects them to their ancestral country, even if they have lived elsewhere. It is often contested but can be analytically appropriate for certain groups or individuals.
Contemporary migration processes present ongoing challenges for integration, as they are likely to continue for generations and are not fully accomplished.
Parekh's dialogic approach emphasizes the value of intergroup interaction and the cross-fertilization of perspectives in a democratic multi-ethnic society.
Liberals counter that tightly integrated communities may conflict with individual human rights, as they can give community leadership excessive power over individuals.
Many Southallians reproduce the dominant discourse in certain situations due to the influence of elite resources that flow through ethnic or religious channels, necessitating explanations in those terms.
Some of the most vehement Sikh nationalists are Australians, Croatian nationalists, Canadians, Algerian nationalists, French, and Chinese Americans.
The chapter addresses issues concerning cultural and ethnic pluralism, multiculturalism, and the relationship to liberal individualism.
Charles Taylor argues in favor of a liberalism that acknowledges the intrinsic value of cultural difference, suggesting that a society that is supposedly fair and difference-blind is inhuman and discriminatory.
A concept that refers to the coexistence and support of distinct cultural identities within a society, often associated with various approaches to managing diversity and social solidarity.
Transnationalism facilitates the maintenance of connections and cultural identity among migrants, allowing them to reconstruct a sense of belonging to their homeland despite physical distance.
Criticism of multiculturalism in Western Europe has grown since the late 1980s, questioning the effectiveness and implications of multicultural policies and the models of culture developed by anthropology.
Locality influences their sense of identity by fostering connections and collective identities that are based on shared experiences and exclusion from the majority society, rather than solely on ancestral or national ties.
The term refers to a rigid adherence to pure cultural identities, which is contrasted with the idea of mongrelization and the acceptance of mixed identities that arise from mass migration.
Transnationalism refers to the connections and interactions that migrant minorities maintain across national borders, influencing both their identities and cultural practices.
Identity Politics refers to the political approach that focuses on the interests and perspectives of groups with which people identify, often based on aspects such as race, ethnicity, gender, or culture.
Fuglerud conducted a study on Tamils in Norway, analyzing group dynamics within the Tamil community and their involvement in the independence movement against the Sri Lankan government.
Tamils are generally considered a well-integrated immigrant minority in Norway, with many holding jobs and rarely engaging in illegal activities.
Kymlicka regards people's bond to their own culture as a deep-seated attachment tied to the human condition, emphasizing that while culture is not static, it is essential for individuals to make sense of their world.
Identity Politics refers to political positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which people identify, often focusing on issues of race, gender, ethnicity, and culture.
The state can be accused of injustice both for promoting equality, which may undermine minority identities, and for supporting the retention of difference, which can lead to discrimination against minorities.
Hybridity entails cultural mixing and the emergence of ‘impure’, ambiguous identities which reject essentialism and rigid boundaries, highlighting change and flux.
Communitarians argue that ethnic minorities should be encouraged to strengthen their cultural integration within cohesive social and cultural communities to attain value, morality, and the good life.
Long-distance nationalism is a form of transnationalism where individuals live in one country but remain politically involved in another, influencing their social identification and engagement.
Integration into the majority society can create shared experiences but also lead to tensions within minority groups, particularly at the margins, as they navigate their identities in a changing cultural landscape.
Long-distance nationalism refers to transnational political activity where immigrants support political causes in their home countries while living abroad, often through financial contributions and advocacy, illustrating how transnational connections can weaken the authority of the nation-state.
The chapter suggests that typical characteristics of identity politics in the contemporary era are nearly ubiquitous in the modern ‘politics of recognition’.
Ethnicity refers to the shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another, often based on shared heritage, language, and traditions.
Multiculturalism faces challenges in finding common ground within diverse populations while managing the complexities of transnationalism and the politics that arise from it.
Anthropologists often engage with multiculturalism by making political or moral judgments, with many defending its principles while others critique it from human rights perspectives.
The view of culture and society as closed, self-sustaining entities was challenged in the 1980s, leading to a focus on complex phenomena like transnationalism and nationhood.
The term 'multiculturalism' is increasingly being replaced by 'diversity', which is seen as a less reifying concept.
Power is the decisive variable in defining ethnic identity, where usually the majority has the authority to dictate when minorities should assimilate or be segregated, often denying potential elites the right to be different and low classes the right to be equal.
The Muslim community in Mauritius faced internal divisions over differential treatment, particularly when the Muslim Personal Law was removed, which had previously allowed them to settle domestic matters according to their own laws, revealing significant differences in views and values within the community.
