Lectures & Articles – The Multicultural Society – Term 4 UU
Lecture 1
Migration is nothing new part of human history
Dutch republic open, tolerant to migration arc of refugees
Not all migration is international, a lot is internal
Borders shift over time conquest, war, empire building, collapse
o E.g. former Soviet Union, Texas and California. Arizona used to be Mexico
Migration is not ‘free’, only privileged can travel, not everyone
Passports are a new invention, only after WW1
o Before that free movement of people
Significance of Name Giving
Labels that are used in different national contexts, to denote migrants are not coincidental or
inconsequential
Immigrés – France Social identities constituting a diversity narrative
Auslander – Germany and
Switzerland
Ethnic minorities – NL Ethnic group
o E.g. verzuiling, Gender
Socio economic position
katholoieken eigen zender,
school, sportclub
Names mirror ‘us-them’ boundaries
and indicate differential levels of
willingness to accommodate Education
international migration
Person Sexual
background
How we build an immigration orientation
policy mirrors how we see
ourselves
Social identities constituting a Family Religious group
diversity narrative
Age
7
Diversity & Inclusion
Both concepts are linked to the ideal of social justice as an essential pillar of a free and
democratic society
Diversity – focus on differences
Inclusion – focus on participatory voice
You still say 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants even if they have passports etc.
o Still seen as outsiders
Challenges
How do ethnic minorities become integrated?
What does it mean to be integrated?
Should policies be designed/implemented that make cultural minorities ‘typical Dutch’?
What is the economic position of ethnic minorities?
How can the economic position of ethnic minorities be improved?
o Profiling if e.g. a black person is very rich
Are cultural minorities equally happy and satisfied with life
What does political participation and representation if minorities look like?
Diversity in schools, neighborhoods and organizations
Black schools = familiar with immigration background
Contact vs. segregation
,Why do people move?
Economic theories of migration
o Push-pull theories (Ravenstein) – 1890
Certain countries push people away (poverty), others pull (need labor)
o Neo-classical economics: people move because they are individualistic, overly
simplistic, no role of state -1960
o The historical – structural approach – 1970
World system theory: has Marxist theory roots, flaws ‘too much capitalism,
too little agency’
o Migration systems theory and the trend to a new interdisciplinary approach
Based on colonization, politics, trade, investment, cultural tics
o Transnational theory – 1990
Modern technologies, transport and communication make it easier to remain
close links with area of origin. Agency based
The immobility paradox: many do not move!
Class and inequality a factor leading to access of migration
Integration
Immigrant integration is the process of economic mobility and social inclusion for newcomers
and their children Acculturation strategies: migrant perspect
Integration is when immigrants become
accepted in society: both as individuals and
as groups
o Mutually adapt
Assimilation (integration)
o Melting pot (assimilation)
o Salad bowl (pluralism) Assimilation Integration
o Tex-mex turkey burger (creolization, Accept
something new) Host
Enculturation: process by which people learn Culture
the requirements of their surrounding culture
and acquire values and behaviors appropriate Marginalization Separation
and necessary in that culture
Acculturation: process of cultural and Reject
psychological change that results following Host
meeting between cultures Culture
RejectOrigin Accept Origin
Acculturation strategies
Culture Culture
Integration most adaptive strategy also
preferred by immigrants (Hawkes,
Minority culture identity is an important resource for minority groups
Native majority in favor of assimilation
Multiculturalism
Meanings:
o As a demographic diversity
o As a political philosophy
o As actual public policy
Demographic diversity
o Indigenous people (e.g. Frysian)
o Sub-state national groups (e.g. Belgium: not ‘one nation’)
o Immigrant groups (racial, ethnic, religious)
, Political philosophy
o Requires the majority to value cultural pluralism and view immigrant’s adaptation to
the host culture as mutual accommodation
o Two demands:
Recognition and valorization of cultural pluralism
Empowerment of ethno-cultural group
o Public policy
Affirmation of multiculturalism in countries institution
Consists of policies that recognize and accommodate pluralism
Ethnic representation in media
Funding ethnic organizations
Bilingual education
Dual citizenship
Critique
(illegal) immigration burdens economic welfare and social trust among citizens
Multiculturalism fails to address economics and power inequalities
Alternative policies:
o Civic integration: focus on integration of individual minorities
Civic tests for newcomers
Individual responsibility instead of group-based rights
Articles Week 1
Kymlicka (2010) rise and fall of multiculturalism
1970-1990: more policies and recognition of multiculturalism and minorities
Mid 1990s: backlash, return of assimilation, retreat
o Threatening their way of life, fear
Multiculturalism is seen as feel good celebration of ethno-cultural diversity
o 3S model of multiculturalism in UK: Samosus, Steeldrum, Saris
o Critique:
Ignores issues of economic and political inequality
Celebrating cultural practices can be dangerous e.g. forced marriage
Assumption that each group has own distinctive customs ignores process of
adaptation
Model can reinforce power inequality, elites are men
Post multiculturalism: emphasize political participation & economic opportunities
After WW2, wave of movements for human equality, racial and ethnic
o Struggle for decolonization
o Struggle against racial segregation and discrimination
o Struggle for multiculturalism and minority rights
All these movements want citizensation = hierarchical relationships liberal democratic
citizenship
3 patterns of multiculturalism
o New empowerment of indigenous people (Maori in NZ)
o New forms of autonomy and power string (vlaanderen en Walonie)
o New multicultural citizenship and immigrants
Perez & Padilla (2003) acculturation, social identity and social cognition
Psychological acculturation: internal processes of change that immigrants experience when in
contact with members of host culture
Park: three stage model; contact, accommodation and assimilation