Multiculturalism in Australia in the 20th Century - Essay Example

Multiculturalism Name Instructor Course Multiculturalism Introduction The word multiculturalism has been utilized to describe a society that is culturally diverse as well as to refer to the type of policy whose objective is to protect and enhance cultural diversity (Khoo and Price, 1996). In most of the parts of the 20th Century, Australia was still experiencing anxiety when it comes to discrimination on the basis of their race or their origins. The White Australia Policy prevailed in most parts of that century which were based primarily on the whiteness idea (Lyons and Russell, 2005). However, as time progressed, and towards the end of the 20th century at the beginning of the 21st century, there was a radical change where Australia began to focus on the idea of multiculturalism. In Australia, multiculturalism is significantly evident in the nature of the multicultural composition of the people who are in that country (Lyons and Russell, 2005). Aside from the composition of these individuals, multiculturalism in Australia has also been evident through the nation’s prohibition of any form of discrimination, and its policies on immigration. The law stipulates equity for all the people and the many policies in the country which aims at promoting cultural diversity (Babacan and Babacan, 2007). The paper will, therefore, expound on the topic of multiculturalism and support the fact that Australia is indeed a multicultural country. Multiculturalism in Australia in the 20th Century The approach of Australia from Federation to immigration regarding multiculturalism typically excluded the immigration of the non-Europeans (Jupp, 2001). After the Second World War, the Australian government dismantled progressively ‘The White Australia’ policy which was widespread during this century. The prevailing attitude of the settlement of immigrants in the 20th century was primarily founded on their expectation to be assimilated into the Australian culture (Jupp, 2001). This simply means that during this time, the migrants in the 20th century were expected to shed their individual languages and cultures for them to fit in the Australian society. In doing this, they would then turn out to be indistinguishable from the Australian population which is their host country (Jupp, 2001). However, towards the end of the 20th century, Australia began developing an ethnocultural diversity character as well as began embracing multiculturalism. This was evident when for the very first time in this century, Australia was absorbing significant numbers of immigrants who were not necessarily from the European origin (Koleth, 2010). Towards the end of this century, the immigration policy of Australia changed from being that of assimilation to being that of multiculturalism. After this period in the later decades, numerous other groups from different countries started moving into Australia after they were experiencing conflicts in their individual countries (Koleth, 2010). As the the Australian culture changed from assimilation to multiculturalism, it symbolized that Australia was ready to tackle some of the social challenges regarding multiculturalism as the 21st century approached (Koleth, 2010). Multiculturalism in the 21st Century Historically, Australian did not initially accept all the people from diverse backgrounds where it mostly followed the White Australia Policy (Poynting and Mason, 2008). However, this particular policy became dismantled after the Second World War through different changes to the policy on immigration of that country. In the year 1973, there were some initial moves which were made by the Whitlam Labor government regarding embracing multiculturalism in Australia (Flowers and Swan, 2012). After this year, Fraser’s Conservative Coalition started implementing some further official policies on national multiculturalism in Australia. In the year 1980s and 1990s, Bob Hawke’s Labor Government continued to support the same policies which Paul Keating continued to support them further until the period which he was defeated electrically in the year 1996 (Flowers and Swan, 2012). After this period, the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) policies continued to be supported and implemented in Australia even in the 21st century at the various levels of public service and the government (Flowers and Swan, 2012). An example of this is the Medical Support Systems that aims at handling the needs of the residents who do not speak English only. Mutliculturalism Australia Presently Currently, the population of Australia is diverse and includes individuals from different backgrounds. There are a variety of ethnic groups in that country as well as individuals who speak different languages. Precisely, Australia has people who speak about 200 languages and come from 100 ethnic groups as well (Matereke, 2009). After the Second World War, approximately 6 million people entered Australia from approximately 250 different places of birth which is a clear depiction that Australia is indeed a multicultural nation following this diversity (Matereke, 2009). Some of the larger Australian cities where multiculturalism is most evident include Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney which are the places where most of these post-war immigrants settled after they entered Australia (Matereke, 2009). Australia is indeed a good example of a multicultural country. As per the census which was undertaken in the year 2011, approximately 26% of the entire Australian population was not born in the country but overseas (Dolby, 2000). In the same light, the Aboriginal Australians make up about 2.5% of the entire Australian population. By the year 2008, the Australian nation became number 18 in the entire world regarding their ‘net migration per capita’ and was ahead of the USA, Canada, as well as most parts of Europe (Dolby, 2000). Additionally, the government of Australia is largely concerned with three distinct and broad policy areas regarding multiculturalism in that country as per the National Agenda concerning a Multicultural Australia (Hugo, 1995). These policy areas include economic efficiency, social justice, as well as cultural identity. The Australian multiculturalism has always enjoyed and has continued to enjoy the political endorsement from the major political parties in that country. The multicultural policy in Australia typically embraces their cultural traditions and shared values. These policies also enable them to have the option of perceiving Australia as their home country while having the right to share and practice different languages and cultural traditions free from discrimination and within the law (Moran, 2011). Approximately one-quarter of the entire Australian population were not born in that country, and nearly 4 million of them speak a different language which is not English. Additionally, the culture in Australia is regarded to being diverse and broad just like that country’s landscape. The country is multiracial and multicultural which is reflected in the nation’s experiences, cultural practices, lifestyle, as well as food. The Torres Strait Islander and the Aboriginals have largely inhabited the country for several centuries (Moran, 2011). Following the extent of multiculturalism that is evident in Australia, there have been issues regarding the political and social environment which have posed threats to the national security, harmony, and cohesion which have started to come up. The government of Australia has consistently been striving to address these challenges through encouraging and engaging in dialogue with the various community groups (Moran, 2011). Regarding social cohesion, even the critics of multiculturalism in Australia would openly attest to the social miracle which has been experienced in the migration history of Australia both on the 20th and the 21st centuries. There was evidence that depicted high levels of social cohesion in Australia following a recent survey by the Scanlon Foundation on the subject of social cohesion in that country (Smolicz and Secombe, 2009). Regarding the attainment of education, studies have depicted the immigrant children in that country usually achieve better academic results as compared to the Australian native children. This academic performance has also been reflected in their economic participations where the skilled immigrants typically have high levels of labor market participation as compared to the native Australians (Smolicz and Secombe, 2009). Additionally, concerning the civic integration, approximately 80% of the immigrants in Australia have decided to obtain the Australian citizenship. Following all the counts concerning civic integration, economic participation, educational attainment, and social cohesion, it is evident that the multicultural society in Australia has been a great success (Smolicz and Secombe, 2009). As compared to the some other countries, Australia has taken a different route regarding multiculturalism. As opposed to the French republicanism, the Australian multiculturalism has not resorted to confining itself with some cultural differences in the private realm. The Australian society typically celebrates its cultural diversity openly (Koleth, 2010). For example, as compared to the French republicanism, there was an open public diversity endorsement which could otherwise not even be contemplated if it were in the French society. Such diversity endorsements would have been regarded as threats to the civic order in the French society (Koleth, 2010). On the other hand, unlike the approach of the Germans, Australia has continued to extend its intent of civic friendship to the immigrants. The individuals who arrive at the shores of Australians as migrants are not just expected to be as mere guests. Instead, the migrants are encouraged and expected to become the fellow Australian citizens who possess some equal standings in the Australian society (Koleth, 2010). The multiculturalism in Australia is formed by the compact of citizenship. This is where the cultural differences are required to be embraced but only on the condition that they are in line with those who live under the Australian democracy. The multiculturalism in Australia has typically been regarded as a specific exercise to nation-building. Embracing multiculturalism in Australia has usually been aimed at strengthening the national identity of the Australians as opposed to superseding it. This has always proven to be muscular and robust which high levels of commitment to the liberal democracy (Poynting and Mason, 2008). Their success as a country has been mainly attributed to being the most socially cohesive and culturally diverse countries in the entire globe as it is grounded firmly in their adherence to the specific values which underpins the society in that country. Additionally, as has been earlier noted, the diverse communities in that country have brought with them different cultural practices, lifestyle, as well as food which has been amicably absorbed in the Australian culture mainstream (Poynting and Mason, 2008). The Australian authority, and the community as a whole, usually strives to be careful not to judge an entire community because of the actions of a few extremists and they also do not allow prejudices and stereotypes to take charge (Moran, 2011). For example, a study was conducted around the Australian nation through consultations with different communities regarding their different experiences concerning racism. According to that survey, the representatives from the Arab and Muslim communities affirmed that the public debates regarding terrorism were starting to cause some levels of disharmony within the communities (Moran, 2011). It was established that the Muslims in Australia were experiencing some levels of discrimination. Following this, it is apparent that some given communities may be prone to different levels of religious and racial vilification. These are some of the challenges that are currently facing the Australian multiculturalism which reminds the Australian citizens not to be complacent when it comes to such issues but instead becomes vocal to avoid some of these extremists seducing some of the alienated youths with their unhealthy violence messages (Moran, 2011). Conclusion The word multiculturalism has been widely used to describe a society or a community which is largely diverse and that which has some policies which tend to encourage cultural diversity and social cohesion. Although Australia did not initially accept all the people from diverse backgrounds because they lived under the White Australia Policy, this changed after the Second World War where this policy was dismantled. Australia is evidently an example of a multicultural country. The focus of enhancing multiculturalism in that country started way back in the 20th century and had continued to be stronger going into the 21st century. Some of the factors which show that Australia is a multicultural country has been discussed in the paper with the main one being its policies regarding migration. However, Australia faces some challenges in its bid to enhancing multiculturalism which is concerned with extremism that needs to be addressed if multiculturalism is to continue being a success in Australia. References Babacan, A and Babacan, H 2007, Multiculturalism in Australia. Journal of Industrial Relations and Human Resources, vol. 9, no. 3, pp.26-38. Dolby, N 2000, Race, nation and state: Multiculturalism in Australia. Arena, issue. 45, pp.48-51. Flowers, R. and Swan, E 2012, Eating the Asian other? Pedagogies of food multiculturalism in Australia. Portal Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1-5. Koleth, E 2010, Multiculturalism: a review of Australian policy statements and recent debates in Australia and overseas, Canberra, ACT: Department of Parliamentary Services. Moran, A 2011, Multiculturalism as nation-building in Australia: Inclusive national identity and the embrace of diversity. Ethnic and Racial Studies, vol. 34, no. 12, pp.2153-2172. Poynting, S. and Mason, V 2008, The new integrationism, the state and Islamophobia: retreat from multiculturalism in Australia. International journal of law, crime and justice, 36(4), pp.230-246. Smolicz, J. and Secombe, M 2009, Globalisation, identity, and cultural dynamics in a multiethnic state: multiculturalism in Australia. In Nation-Building, Identity and Citizenship Education (pp. 83-96), Springer Netherlands. Matereke, K 2009, “Embracing the Aussie Identity”: Theoretical Reflections on Challenges and Prospects for African-Australian Youths. Australasian Review of African Studies, Vol. 30, no. 1, 129-43. 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