The Politics of Multicultural Politics: Transatlantic Divides, Intercontinental Discourses

Abstract

One of the more vexing shibboleths of the twenty-first century is the much-trumpeted death knell of multiculturalism. In the security-conscious era following 9/11 and 7/7, the politics over multiculturalism have leapt into prominence, with some saying “yes,” others insisting on “no,” and still others, a “maybe” (reflecting a combination of ignorance, confusion, or indifference). Pundits of varying political stripes have declared that, in outlasting its usefulness, multiculturalism is dying or in retreat, in part because of the encounter with the Islamic “other” (Hage 2006; IMISCOE 2006; Modood 2008). And good riddance too, according to critics. To one side of the dismissive divide are the perceived excesses associated with campus speech codes, compulsory sensitivity training, the expunging of dead white male authors from course curricula, and ruined careers because of frivolous “ism” charges (Bernstein 1994). To the other side are those who criticize multiculturalism as a thinly veiled hegemony for consolidating prevailing patterns of power and privilege (Bannerji 2000; Thobani 2007). To yet another side are the risks associated with careless multicultural policies, including the proliferation of tribally inspired identity politics and unbounded collective rights, whose cumulative impact results in a splintered society of monocultural ghettos (“cultural apartheid”) (Alibhai-Brown 2000; Malik 2008). Thankfully, critics conclude, a yearning for national solidarity and a singularity of citizenship has discredited this misadventure called multiculturalism, while reviving a more monocultural normalcy (Wirten 2008).