Multiculturalism and Sociocultural Identity

Multiculturalism is a ubiquitous term that has passed into the common parlance in the United States and Canada and is readily understood as referring to cultural diversity in society. Multiculturalism is also a charged term, its nature and effects disputed by both specialists in various fields and the public at large. For proponents, multiculturalism is a positive discourse that celebrates diversity and promotes tolerance at the local and national levels. For detractors, it is a divisive discourse that undermines national unity by promoting various ethnic identities and cultural heritages rather than a unifying national culture and heritage and thus stresses our differences instead of what unites us. As a subcategory of multiculturalism, multicultural education is similarly charged. Proponents regard it as a positive approach that ...