Does multiculturalism strengthen or undermine the Canadian identity - Essay Example

Does multiculturalism strengthen or undermine the Canadian identity? (Words: 2939 0 Introduction The development of multiculturalism worldwide hasbeen related to the expansion of globalization. Indeed, in the context of a globalized world the co-existence of different cultures in each country is considered as rather inevitable, a phenomenon though that can sets in risks certain national characteristics, such as the national identity. The influence of multiculturalism in the national identity of a particular country, Canada, is explored in this paper. The key argument of current study could be described as follows: In Canada multiculturalism has rather negatively affected the country’s national identity even if the relevant fact is not fully clear today, a fact which is considered as expected since it can take decades for social and political trends to show their implications. Multiculturalism, as a concept related to Canada’s culture, has been described by Trudeau in 1971 as ‘a framework related to the elimination o discriminatory attitudes and cultural jealousies’ (Tierney 2011, p.27). In other words, in Canada multiculturalism was first introduced, in 1971, as a framework for securing ‘the freedom of people to choose the culture they wish’ (Tierney 2011, p.28). The main body of this study is divided in two parts. In the first part, i.e. the section 2, the evidence related to the positive effects of multiculturalism on Canadian identity is presented. The negative aspects of multiculturalism, as related to Canadian identity are presented in section 3 of this study. Through the findings of the literature, as included in these two sections, the thesis of this study, as explained in previous paragraph, is fully verified. In the conclusion section of this study the reasons for which multiculturalism should be considered as a threat rather as a supporter of Canadian identity are highlighted, with reference to the literature included in sections 2 and 3 of the study. 2.0 Multiculturalism as a phenomenon enhancing Canadian identity Canada is a country with a high number of immigrants. In fact, for 2010, immigrants in Canada were found to represent about ‘20% of the country’s population’ (Bloemraad 2012, p.2). This percentage is quite high compared to other developed countries; for example, ‘in UK immigrants are just 11% of the population’ (Bloemraad 2012, p.2). This fact can be related to the following trend: in Canada most people believe that immigrants rather benefit the country; this trend has been captured through surveys developed in Canada at different time points ‘between 1975 and 2010’ (Bloemraad 2012, p.2). In the research developed by Kymlicka (2010) emphasis is given to the potentials offered to immigrants in Canada in order to participate in the country’s political, social and economic life. It is noted that for Canada multiculturalism has rather a positive impact on national identify (Kymlicka 2010, p.7). The above view is based on the findings of a relevant survey: in 2003 the organization Environics developed a survey for checking the response of Canadians to multiculturalism, as involved in the country’s identity (Kymlicka 2010, p.7). Most participants, about 85%, noted that ‘multiculturalism has promoted Canadian identity’ (Kymlicka 2010, p.7); in a similar survey developed by the above organization in 1997 the relevant percentage was 74% (Kymlicka 2010, p.7). In other words, for many people in Canada multiculturalism is not a threat to Canadian identity, an issue though which is opposed by other researchers in the particular field, as verified through the evidence provided in section 3 of this paper. Breton et al. (2009) noted that multiculturalism is a critical part of Canada’s ‘social and political life’ (Breton et al. 2009, p.49). It is explained that in Canada multiculturalism is not just a trend but rather a framework that has highly influenced the country’s legislation and politics (Breton et al. 2009). Reference should be made, as an example to the ‘Canadian Multiculturalism Act 1990/1991’ (Breton et al. 2009, p.49) but also to the numerous decisions of the country’s governments from 1971 up today. Through the above decisions specific initiatives are established in order to ensure that immigrants in Canada will be able to access the job market and the social life of the country under equal terms with natives (Breton et al.2009). In addition, through the decades the governments of Canada have made extensive efforts to secure ‘the protection of cultural heritage, such as traditions and language of minorities’ (Breton et al. 2009, p.49). The above facts verify the importance of multiculturalism in Canada; it is implied that the specific framework is considered as supportive for the country’s identity. Satzewich and Wong (2011) also promote the idea that multiculturalism in Canada has not negatively affected the country’s identity because of the following fact: in Canada multiculturalism is not based on the co-existence of distinctive cultures but rather on the integration of various cultures in the Canadian culture (Satzewich and Wong 2011). The above function of multiculturalism in Canada can be made clear through the example of young Croatians in Canada. The Croatians of first generation in Canada tried to keep their cultural background intact from local cultural influences; instead, young Croatians ‘of second and third generation’ (Satzewich and Wong 2011, p.276) have followed a different practice: for them, identity is related to multiculturalism. This means that for these young people the Croatian culture in Canada can be kept alive only as part of the Canadian culture (Satzewich and Wong 2011). Such approach can be considered as expected at the level that these young people have born in Canada and their life has been related to Canada’s social and economic life. In this context, for Canada multiculturalism may not be considered as a threat but rather as a supportive factor for Canada’s identity. At the same time Bolaria and Hier (2006) supported that multiculturalism has positively affected Canadian social life. It is explained that up to 1960s the legal framework of Canada was rather hostile towards human rights (Bolaria and Hier 2006). Moreover, up to that period laws in Canada used to promote discrimination in regard to various social rights, such as the right to work, the right to acquire property and so on (Bolaria and Hier 2006). However, after the entry in Canada of multiculturalism, in 1970s, human rights in the country were highly developed while equality and justice in all aspects of economic and social life were promoted (Bolaria and Hier 2006). In this way, multiculturalism in Canada has become ‘a major part of the country’s social infrastructure’ (Bolaria and Hier 2006, p.197). In other words multiculturalism in Canada had a critical role in the transformation of the country’s social and political structure: instead of focusing on identity as a criterion for social and political support, the country’s government has tried to emphasize on equality and fairness (Bolaria and Hier 2006). These principles have increased the willingness of immigrants to support the economic development of the country, a fact that turned immigration to a positive trend for the economy and society of Canada. Burayidi (1997) noted that the development of multiculturalism in Canada has not been rapid. Rather, it took years for the country’s government to provide the necessary legislation so that concepts like ‘equality and fairness’ (Burayidi 1997, p.102) are offered necessary cover by law. Reference should be made in particular to the ‘1988 Multicultural Act’ (Burayidi 1997, p.102), a law that has been considered as the confirmation of the acceptance of multiculturalism by the state; up to then, the country’s governments, although positive towards multiculturalism, avoided to develop the legislative framework in the context of which the growth of multiculturalism across Canada would be based (Burayidi 1997). Two have been the key elements of the above Act that could guarantee the protection of multiculturalism: a) the Act addressed all people in Canada, i.e. not just the part of the population characterized as ‘ethnics’ (Burayidi 1997, p.102), b) through the Act two critical concepts, i.e. ‘citizenship and human rights, are related to multiculturalism’ (Burayidi 1997, p.102). In other words, it took about 18 years, from 1971 to 1988, to multiculturalism to become an indispensable part of Canada’s political, social and economic life. However, this fact cannot, not necessarily, lead to the assumption that multiculturalism in Canada has been opposed to the country’s identity; instead, this lateness can be rather related to the lack of the country’s experience in managing the rapid expansion of critical social phenomena, such as immigration, as leading to multiculturalism. According to Taylor (2012) the development of multiculturalism in Canada has been supported by authorities in an effort to secure the ‘country’s unity’ (Taylor 2012, p.100). It is explained that in Canada multiculturalism has been a concept that was first introduced, at national level, in 1971; it was then that the country’s ‘official policy on multiculturalism appeared’ (Taylor 2012, p.100). However, multiculturalism in Canada has not been based on the idea of establishing different cultural identities in certain regions of the country, as people in Quebec have asked for (Taylor 2012, p.100). Rather, multiculturalism in Canada has promoted the idea that the protection of Canadian identity should be the priority of the country’s legislative and cultural framework and that the cultures of minorities should rather be incorporated in Canadian culture and should not exist as autonomous frameworks within the Canadian culture (Taylor 2012). Through the view of Taylor, as presented above, the following assumption can be produced: in Canada multiculturalism has not the same form and rules as in other countries worldwide. In this context, it can be also assumed that multiculturalism in each pure form has been considered as a threat for Canadian identity. For this reason the introduction of a unique mode of multiculturalism, as could also described as pseudo-multiculturalism, i.e. as not actual multiculturalism, in Canada has been decided. On the other hand, Kenedy et al. (2013) explained that multiculturalism in Canada is not actually developed at high level. This fact is made clear through the case of Portuguese in Canada; today, Portuguese immigrants represent one of the most powerful minority groups of the country, reaching about the ‘1.3% of the country’s total population’ (Kenedy et al. 2013, p.1). After reviewing the challenges that this minority group has faced in Canada the following assumption has been developed: Portuguese in Canada have not been offered the chance to be integrated in the Canadian ‘economic, social, educational and political life of Canada’ (Kenedy et al. 2013, p.5). For example, those Portuguese who ‘originate from the European mainland’ (Kenedy et al. 2013, p.4) have managed to establish their cultural identity in Canada since their language has been considered as more aligned with the European culture; other members of the Portuguese community, such as ‘those belonging in the Azorean community’ (Kenedy et al. 2013, p.4) have not given the right to establish their culture in Canada since their language is considered as being highly differentiated from other European languages. The above example shows that multiculturalism in Canada is not standardized; rather, it is used rather exceptionally for establishing rights to specific minority groups. In this context also, multiculturalism in Canada cannot be considered as threatening the country’s identity since the rules on which these concept is based do not guarantee full equality and fairness, principles that should be secured under multiculturalism. 3.0 How multiculturalism in Canada has negatively affected Canadian identity Even if multiculturalism has led to the enhancement of critical social principles, such as equality and fairness, the negative aspects of this concept cannot be ignored. According to Grubel (2009) the continuous increase of the number of immigrants in Canada has led to the appearance of an important phenomenon: the Canadian identity has lost its uniqueness, i.e. its independency. It is explained that in societies where multiculturalism is promoted the protection of immigration is set as a priority (Grubel 2009). However, immigration, as a social trend, has ‘its own identity’ (Grubel 2009, p.197). This identity needs to be fully defined and regulated in each country, so that national identity is not threatened; in practice, this target is difficult to be achieved especially in countries where the ‘flows of immigrants are excessive, such as in the case of Canada’ (Grubel 2009, p.197). As a result, it is not possible for local government to develop a view in regard to the estimated form of immigration and multiculturalism in the future; in Canada a similar problem also exists (Grubel 2009). Under these terms, Canadian government is not aware of the potential risks of immigration for the country’s identity in the long term; therefore, no measures can be introduced in advance for avoiding the exposure of the country in these risks (Grubel 2009). This means that by promoting immigration at such level Canada has entered a zone that can be proved disastrous for the country’s identity in all its aspects, i.e. economy, politics and social life. Through a similar approach Cameron (2004) has noted that in Canada multiculturalism has been highly developed, becoming similar to pluralism. This trend is made clear through the following fact: from 1970s the Canadian governments have tried to emphasize on multiculturalism in regard to various aspects of Canada’s identity. However, these efforts have not been fully welcomed by Canadian people because of the following reason: diversity and equality in regard to minorities are principles aligned with the Canadian identity; still pluralism is opposed to Canadian identity (Cameron 2004). For this reason the specific trend has caused the strong opposition of Canadians especially since Canadian government does not seem as willing to set barriers to the development of pluralism across the country (Cameron 2004). Moreover, for Canada multiculturalism would result in another risk: ethnic groups the history of which is related to Canadian history, meaning especially ‘the people in Quebec and the Aboriginal people’ (Fleras 2009, p.86), do not accept the concept of multiculturalism when describing their position in the Canadian culture. Rather, these people focus on the uniqueness of their cultural characteristics, as part of Canadian identity (Fleras 2009). This means that the people of these regions consider themselves as having rights for securing their own cultural framework, as this framework could co-exist with the Canadian culture (Fleras 2009). For these people the concept of multiculturalism is used for promoting the rights of various groups of immigrants; these groups do not have rights on Canadian identity, at least not at the level of local ethnic groups, such as the Quebecois (Fleras 2009). In this context, the emphasis on multiculturalism in Canada would lead to the development of social conflicts between the country’s ethnic groups and the groups of immigrants, a fact that would severely threaten social peace, as related to national identity (Fleras 2009). The potential risks of multiculturalism for Canada’s identity are verified through the following fact: in 1991 the ‘Economic Council of Canada’ (Wright et al. 2012, p.193) emphasized on the need of the supporters of multiculturalism in Canada to change certain of their beliefs. It is noted that these people should understand that multiculturalism does not mean to abandon the cultural framework of the host country, in the particular case of Canada, but it should necessarily combined with ‘the respect of Canadian values’ (Wright et al. 2012, p.193). It is implied that multiculturalism in Canada, as promoted in the period from 1971 to 1991, was not related to Canadian identity but it was rather enhanced by emphasizing on the respect of the culture of minority groups. 4.0 Conclusion The growth of multiculturalism in Canada seems to be important. In fact, since 1970s the country’s governments have tried to secure multiculturalism as part of the Canadian social, political and economic life. Towards this direction, laws have been introduced for defining and for protecting multiculturalism in Canada; at the same time, initiatives and programmes have been promoted by Canadian governments so that needs of multiculturalism, as a social trend, are covered. All these efforts has been made on the basis that multiculturalism could help the development of Canada’s identity: this outcome would be mostly related to the enhancement of important principles, such as fairness and equality, as parts of the Canadian identity. The limitation of negative social trends, such as discrimination, could be also secured in the context of multiculturalism. Despite its benefits, as analyzed above, multiculturalism has been proved to have important risks for Canadian identity. These risks are mostly related to specific facts, such as: the lack of an integrate schedule/ plan for the co-existence of different cultural groups in Canada, the decrease of the quality of life for Canadians due to the continuous increase of immigration and the decrease of safety, as part of daily life of people across Canada. These facts verify the thesis of this paper that multiculturalism threatens Canadian identity. So far, immigrants have been welcomed in Canada on the basis that they could help the development of local economy while they could not be considered as a threat for the Canadian identity which has been believed to be quite strong, a fact that has not been fully verified in practice. Moreover, the number of immigrants in Canada is continuously increased; under this rate of increase the population of immigrants in Canada would become in a few decades higher than the population of natives. Also, existing Canadian laws regulating multiculturalism are not quite clear; mistakes in their interpretation have not been avoided. In this way, the superiority of the Canadian identity in the future could be severely threatened. In other words, multiculturalism in Canada sets important risks for the country’s identity but these risks could take a few decades to be made clear; if appropriate policies are not introduced for securing Canadian identity, as being of primary value for native people, then the radical transformation of this identity in the future would be inevitable. References Bloemraad, Irene. “Understanding ‘Canadian Exceptionalism’ in Immigration and Pluralism policy.” Migration Policy Institute, 2012: 1-18 Bolaria, Singh and Sean, Hier. Identity and Belonging: Rethinking Race and Ethnicity in Canadian Society. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2006. Breton, Raymond, Dion, Karen and Kenneth, Dion. Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion: Potentials and Challenges of Diversity. New York: Springer, 2009. Burayidi, Michael. Multiculturalism in a Cross-national Perspective. Lanham: University Press of America, 1997. Cameron, Elspeth. Multiculturalism and Immigration in Canada: An Introductory Reader. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2004. Fleras, Augie. The Politics of Multiculturalism: Multicultural Governance in Comparative Perspective. Oxford: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. Grubel, Herbert. The Effects of Mass Immigration on Canadian Living Standards and Society. Vancouver: The Fraser Institute, 2009. Kenedy, Robert, Nunes, Fernando and Ana Beja Horta. “Identity, Civic Engagement and Multiculturalism: Portuguese-Canadian Immigrant Descendants in Canada and Portugal.” Portuguese Studies Review, Vol. 20, No. 2 (2013): 1-5 Kymlicka, Will. “THE CURRENT STATE OF MULTICULTURALISM IN CANADA AND RESEARCH THEMES ON CANADIAN MULTICULTURALISM 2008–2010.” Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Department of Citizenship and Immigration, (2010): 1-38. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/multi-state.pdf [accessed 5 June 2014] Satzewich, Vic and Lloyd, Wong. Transnational Identities and Practices in Canada. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2011. Taylor, Kenwyn. “Multiculturalism and the political process in Trinidad: a case study.” Journal of the Department of Behavioural Sciences, 1, 1(2012): 99-117 Tierney, Stephen. Multiculturalism and the Canadian Constitution. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2011. Wright, Handel, Singh, Michael and Richard Race. Precarious International Multicultural Education:Hegemony, Dissent and Rising Alternatives: Hegemony, Dissent and Rising Alternatives. New York: Springer, 2012. Read More