A Shift of Focus: Towards Multiculturalism

June 22, 2020

This post was written by Kaitlyn Castro. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Kaitlyn decided to pursue her Master of Arts in Global Affairs, with a concentration in Globalization and Security. She is fond of (1) the complex nature of interconnections between countries, (2) global issues, and (3) human security. She strongly believes that knowledge of global topics opens one’s pathway towards open-mindedness and inspires creative ideas.

At a time when racial tensions are high, two viewpoints, colorblindness and multiculturalism, are often offered as methods for combating racial discrimination and disparity. 

Yet these two approaches are very different. Colorblindness advocates looking past racial differences, a view resting upon the idea that we all are the same when, in reality, we are not. Multiculturalism, on the other hand, acknowledges racial differences, allowing us to accept reality as it is. 

Colorblindness and Plato

The perfect analogy for Colorblindness is Plato’s famous allegory of the cave.

In his allegory, three prisoners have been chained in a cave since birth, facing a wall and unable to turn their heads. Light from the outside casts shadows, causing the prisoners to believe that the shadows are, in fact, the real world. After one prisoner is freed, he quickly discovers the contrary. The shadows are mere reflections of reality. When he returns to the cave, the other prisoners do not believe him, calling him blind and violently resisting any attempt to be freed. 

The colorblindness approach fits well with Plato’s allegory. Colorblindness aims to eliminate racial classifications, but it is simply a façade. By failing to recognize systemic, entrenched, and unconscious elements of racism, it runs the risk of actually facilitating discrimination through ignorance, bias, and disengagement. Plato’s allegory highlights how challenging it is to educate individuals who try to understand a polychromatic, three-dimensional world in two-dimensional, monochromatic terms. 

Multiculturalism, in contrast, starts by acknowledging the existence and validity of race, culture, ethnicities, and other identities. It is rooted in celebrating diversity not homogeneity. The multicultural approach has many benefits — individual, social, and economic. Through multiculturalism, we create a world of possibilities. Cultural insight, whether obtained by first-hand experience or second-hand information, can improve learning, increase tolerance, and promote peace. While communities are hubs for knowledge, coexistence is the hub for culture. In a diverse environment, multiculturalism allows communities to encompass vibrancy while showcasing areas of social inclusion, community empowerment, civic pride, and capacity-building. 

Additionally, multiculturalism brings economic benefits including job creation and tourism. Ideas from different communities and locations spark innovation in productivity and development. Events increase city revenue, attracting investors as well as tourists. Not only does multiculturalism lack the conceptual problems of colorblindness, it offers constructive, tangible benefits. 

The Model of Multiculturalism

In recent weeks, we have seen racial tensions rise to surface in the United States and around the world due to the killing of George Floyd. These have highlighted how the United States has failed to embrace multiculturalism. The reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement is one effort to address that failure. At such a time, it seems useful to consider a strong model for multiculturalism: Australia.

It needs to be said that Australia is not perfect. Aboriginal Australians continue to be more likely to be victims of violence and experience institutional discrimination. The country’s treatment of asylum seekers from various parts of Southeast Asia has often, at best, skirted international law. And yet, for all those problems, no other country has so successfully internalized multiculturalism to the general benefit of its population.  

Why? 

Fundamental to Australia’s multiculturalism is what I call a codependency approach, an extension of the social contract theory of government. The right to express cultural identity comes with liberal democratic responsibilities, and vice versa; one cannot exist without the other. Like Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa, Australia has a strong immigrant tradition. But, at least in recent history, it has avoided the pitfalls of assimilation and colorblindness.

It has not always been that way, which should give hope to those in other countries wanting to achieve a similar transition. For the majority of its existence, Australia’s immigration policy was driven by a racist worldview. In 1975, the country made a dramatic pivot. This shift is embodied in its Racial Discrimination Act, a masterful statement of multiculturalism and public acknowledgement of the existence, validity, and benefit of diverse cultures. Multicultural success in Australia shows up in many areas, particularly in the education and economic sectors. 

Various studies have demonstrated that children of native-born Australians on average obtain lower grades than children of immigrants, displaying room for growth and opportunity irrespective of background. Immigration also brings skilled workers and curbs the graying of the population faced by most other developed nations. It is forecast that immigration will boost the budget and increase GDP per capita for several decades. Australia has created an environment where immigrants thrive and are acknowledged for their contributions and success while still expressing their identity. Consequently, community harmony has become the norm in Australia. 

Making Multiculturalism the New Norm

Australia made great strides because its government took action: defining, encouraging, and, where necessary, enforcing multiculturalism. When governments are reluctant to do the same, it is the community that must take action. It is up to us to educate ourselves on multicultural issues within our communities. By doing so, we will understand it is essential to drive change in our government institutions. 

Start simple:

• Read newspaper and magazine articles and critique their accuracy by looking for facts from reputable resources, history, law, and more. 

• Obtain different perspectives on the subject, which helps to expand on your open-mindedness.