Normative Multiculturalism in Socio-political Context

Popular and political discourse about multiculturalism has proclaimed it an abysmal failure in countries like France, Germany and the United Kingdom and an apparent success in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This presentation unpacks multiculturalism by identifying its core characteristics in terms of diversity, ideology and policy and introducing a normative perspective that highlights the everyday experiences of diversity, the perceptions of a multicultural climate and the importance of socio-political context. Findings from an emerging program of research on normative multiculturalism, well-being and social cohesion in New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States are described, illustrating how multiculturalism impacts immigrants and members of the receiving society differently across these three contexts. Recommendations for future research are proposed and policy implications are discussed.